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  US and Iran Signal Peace Deal Is Near as Tehran Claims Victory The United States and Iran signaled on Friday that they are close to reaching an agreement to end their conflict, with a senior U.S. administration official saying both sides have agreed on a draft text and that Washington expects an initial deal to be signed within days. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi said some details remain under discussion but argued that the tentative agreement demonstrates Iran’s strength following the war. “Iran is the winner of the war with the U.S.,” Araqchi said in an interview on state television. According to sources involved in the negotiations, the proposed memorandum of understanding would reopen the Strait of Hormuz and end the U.S. naval blockade of Iranian ports. Talks on Iran’s nuclear program—the issue cited by U.S. President Donald Trump as the reason for launching military action—would continue after the agreement takes effect. A senior U.S. official, speaking on conditio...
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Chittagong Port: DP World Deal Back in Spotlight

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Chittagong Port: DP World Deal Back in Spotlight After Conflicting Government Directives

The proposed lease of the New Mooring Container Terminal (NCT), the largest and most important terminal at Chittagong Port, has returned to the center of debate after two letters carrying different instructions were issued by the Ministry of Shipping on the same day.

On Thursday morning, the ministry directed Chittagong Port Authority to either finalize the ongoing process of leasing NCT to Dubai-based port operator DP World or cancel it altogether. However, a second letter sent later that afternoon instructed the port authority to continue negotiations with the company, raising fresh questions about the government’s position on the project.

The NCT leasing initiative, which was suspended during the final months of the interim government, was revived after the new administration took office. The conflicting directives have fueled uncertainty among stakeholders within and outside the port sector.

Shipping Secretary Zakaria told Prothom Alo on Saturday that negotiations with DP World remain ongoing and that there has been no change in government policy. According to him, the first letter was issued following an opinion from the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) Authority, while the second letter clarified that discussions with DP World should continue after the port authority sought further guidance.

A day after receiving the ministry’s instructions, the Chittagong Port Authority moved ahead with the process by issuing a letter on Friday—despite it being a public holiday—requesting approval to form a seven-member evaluation committee to complete the negotiations.

NCT Remains the Port’s Key Terminal

Among Chittagong Port’s four container terminals, NCT handles the largest share of cargo. In 2025, the terminal processed 44 percent of all containers handled by the port.

Current operations remain unaffected by the leasing debate. Since July 2024, Chittagong Dry Dock Limited (CDDL), a Bangladesh Navy-owned enterprise, has operated the terminal and achieved record-breaking performance in container handling.

In May alone, CDDL handled approximately 126,000 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs), the highest monthly volume ever recorded at the terminal.

From Long-Term Lease Proposal to Suspension

The initiative to lease NCT to DP World began under the former Awami League government through both Public-Private Partnership (PPP) and Government-to-Government (G2G) frameworks. However, the lengthy process remained incomplete before the change in government.

Negotiations advanced significantly during the interim administration, reaching the final stage. However, concerns raised by members of the negotiating committee, along with labor unrest and protests over the proposed deal, complicated the process. As a result, the interim government suspended the leasing initiative on February 9.

The issue resurfaced after the new government took office. During the fourth Bangladesh-Dubai Joint Public-Private Partnership Platform meeting on April 8, DP World proposed not only operating NCT but also integrating it with the adjacent Chittagong Container Terminal (CCT) under a unified management structure.

Why the Two Letters Were Issued

On April 29, the port authority sought guidance from the PPP Authority regarding the future of negotiations with DP World.

In response, the PPP Authority advised that the government could either proceed with the ongoing discussions or terminate the process. Based on that recommendation, the Ministry of Shipping initially instructed the port authority to conclude or cancel the negotiations. Later the same day, however, a second letter clarified that talks with DP World should continue.

The sequence of events prompted questions about whether the government’s position had shifted. Officials from the Ministry of Shipping insist that the policy remains unchanged and that negotiations are still active.

MGH Group Enters the Discussion

While talks with DP World continue, local multinational company MGH Group has also submitted a proposal to operate NCT.

According to the company, its proposal could generate an additional $5 in revenue per container compared with DP World’s offer. However, the proposal has not yet reached the formal evaluation stage.

Officials from both the Ministry of Shipping and Chittagong Port Authority say that as long as negotiations with DP World remain active, there is no scope to consider alternative proposals. If the current discussions fail, a new tender process could be launched, allowing both local and international operators to compete.

Debate Over the Future of NCT

The NCT issue has created a divide among stakeholders.

Domestic port operators argue that a profitable and efficiently run terminal should remain under local management. They contend that foreign investment would be better utilized in new infrastructure projects such as the Bay Terminal rather than in an existing facility already achieving record performance.

Supporters of the DP World proposal, however, argue that international expertise, investment, and global network connections could significantly enhance Chittagong Port’s competitiveness and long-term growth.

For now, the key question remains unresolved: Will the record-setting NCT continue under domestic management, or will it be leased to DP World under a long-term agreement? The answer is likely to shape the future direction of Bangladesh’s largest seaport.

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