Chittagong port, Bangladesh’s principal maritime gateway, is poised to receive fresh foreign direct investment (FDI) as the interim government moves swiftly to finalise deals with global port operators before the national elections.

The initiative comes amid a persistent decline in FDI, with Bangladesh recording a 13.2% drop in net inflows in 2024 to $1.27 billion, down from $1.47 billion the previous year, according to UNCTAD’s World Investment Report 2025. The downturn marks the fourth consecutive year of contraction.

To reverse the trend, authorities are expediting negotiations with major international firms, including DP World (UAE), PSA International (Singapore), and APM Terminals, a subsidiary of Maersk.

Shipping Adviser Brigadier General (retd) M Sakhawat Hussain confirmed that final appointments are expected by October through what he described as “transparent deals”.

Officials from the Ministry of Shipping, Chittagong Port Authority (CPA), the Bangladesh Investment Development Authority (BIDA), and the Chief Adviser’s Office are coordinating the process.

To align with international practices, the CPA is finalising a revised port tariff structure. The proposal, approved by the Ministry of Finance, awaits vetting by the Law Ministry before being gazetted. CPA Secretary Omar Faruk noted that investors will not have pricing control over core port services but may set rates for ancillary services involving their infrastructure.

The Navy-led dry dock’s recent takeover of the New Mooring Container Terminal (NCT) from Saif Powertec has already led to a 7% rise in daily container handling, demonstrating the port’s capacity to improve under new management models.

The government’s push to reenergise the port sector is seen as part of a broader effort to secure lasting economic legacies before the election transition.