Ctg Port invites new tender for Kamalapur ICD following private ICDs’ request

The Chattogram Port Authority (CPA) has cancelled the tender for managing the Kamalapur Inland Container Depot (ICD) in Dhaka following the objection of the Bangladesh Inland Container Depots Association (Bicda) as the association believes the criteria mentioned in the tender documents are unfair to private ICD contractors.

According to the current criteria, bidders are required to have at least 70% experience in government projects, without explicitly mentioning the need for experience in ICD operation and management, which seems to disproportionately favour a specific group or entity.

In Chattogram, there are 19 private ICDs, also known as off-docks, which handle almost 95% of export goods for shipments and 38 types of import goods. The ICDs work to help ease congestion at Chattogram Port and facilitate the quick clearance of full container load cargo by allowing unloading or delivery from areas outside the port.

Confirming the matter to The Business Standard (TBS), CPA Secretary Md Omar Farooq said CPA invited a new tender on 12 September as per the instructions of the Central Procurement Technical Unit (CPTU).

After the publication of the tender notice on 18 June, Bicda raised concerns about the current specifications outlined in the tender documents. They assert that these specifications appear to be biased towards government sector operators, potentially putting private ICD contractors at a disadvantage while participating in tender bids.

ICD owners requested the authorities concerned to give an opportunity to private ICDs to participate in the tender subject to the required qualifications and experience. A letter was given to the CPA chairman on 9 August objecting to some conditions of the tender notice.

Besides, Bicda leaders held a formal meeting with Rear Admiral Mohammad Sohail, chairman of CPA. 

Bicda pointed out in the letter that the tender did not ask for any experience or qualification in operating the ICD to operate the Kamalapur ICD. There is no difference between the operational activities of container and cargo handling at Kamalapur ICD or any private ICD.

Rather, any private ICD's scope and spread of operations related to the storage and handling of export and import goods and cargo containers is much more than that of Dhaka Kamalapur ICD.

The letter also mentions that no private ICD will be able to participate in this tender if the experience criteria mentioned in the tender are kept in force or unchanged. Bicda requested to revise the experience criteria in tenders for recruitment of contractors to include experience in managing private ICDs.

Bicda President Nurul Qayyum Khan said that the private ICDs are working very efficiently in the operation of Chattogram Port. The pattern of Kamlapur ICD is also the same. So it should be ensured that the ICD owners can also participate in the tender. 

"We hope the new tender will reflect our expectations," he added.

In the financial year 2022-23, Chattogram port handled 30,07,344 TEUs of import and export containers. Of this, 94,254 TEUs are handled at Kamalapur ICD. 

Five private ICDs participated in the tender for the management of Kamalapur ICD which are Ispahani Summit Alliance Terminals Ltd, Chattogram Container Transportation Company Ltd, QNS Container Services Ltd, KDS Logistics Ltd and BM Container Depot Ltd.

Saif Powertec is currently engaged in container and cargo handling at Kamalapur ICD. The company is associated with Chattogram Port as the operator of two terminals – New Mooring Container Terminal and Chattogram Container Terminal.