Decks are now all cleared for operation of the Patenga Container Terminal (PTC) with belated declaration bringing its designated import-export area under customs domain.

With Wednesday's customs all-clear, officials said, the Chattogram Port Authority (CPA) would be able to proceed on operationalising container terminal nearby the seaport under a joint venture with a Saudi company.

The first PPP under port sector's backup facility and its adjacent area get customs approval for export-import operations, amid much expectation from businesses of a breakthrough in foreign-trade shipments.

Construction of the container terminal, inaugurated by the Prime Minister in November 2023, was completed one and a half years ago, at a cost of Tk 12.29 billion.

The customs wing of the revenue board now issued a gazette, dated April 17, 2024, defining PCT and its adjacent back-up area as South Container Yard limit for the loading and unloading of goods.

According to the statutory regulatory order (SRO), signed by second secretary of customs Omar Mobin, the customs would have "full control on the customs station of PCT while CPA would control the goods godowns and security of goods".

On December 2023, the CPA signed a US$ 170-million contract under public-private partnership (PPP) paradigm with Red Sea Gateway Terminal International (RSGTI) of Saudi Arabia.

Earlier, in a letter, CPA secretary Md Omar Faruk had requested the National Board of Revenue (NBR) to allow the PTC its backup facility and adjacent area as bonded area to start work to make it operational.

Construction of the 600-metre-long PCT in 26 acres of land, located in-between Chittagong Dry-dock and Chittagong Boat Club, has raised new hopes among the businesses about expediting cargo-release process without congestion at the seaport which now begins to take regional trade load, too.

Having three jetties and an annual capacity of handling 0.5 million TEUs of containers, the PCT is expected to ease pressure on Chattogram Customs Houses.

In June 2017, the PCT got government approval and its construction completed in June 2022.

Bangladesh Shipping Agents Association (BSAA) Chairman Syed Md Arif says the PCT would facilitate import-export as it has capacity of large ship anchorages and round-the-clock navigation.

"The PCT was supposed to start operation from this month and one of our members has applied for using the terminal this month, which was not approved as the Saudi contractor may not fully be prepared for handling the geared ships," he says for an instance of interest in business circles.

The government has leased the maiden private port terminal for 22 years to the Saudi firm.