Payra Seaport to Procure Two Container Handling Cranes for 162 Crore Taka

The Payra Seaport Authority has received approval to spend 162 crore taka for the purchase, installation, and related services of two ship-to-shore (STS) container handling cranes. This decision was made under the "Construction of the First Terminal and Associated Facilities at Payra Seaport (Second Revised) Project." The approval was granted by the Advisory Committee on Government Procurement during a meeting on Tuesday, July 29, 2025, chaired by Finance Adviser Salehuddin Ahmed, who briefed journalists afterward.

An open tender process was conducted, attracting proposals from four firms, three of which were deemed technically responsive. The contract was awarded to a joint venture of HP and NJ China, the lowest bidders.

The construction of Payra Seaport’s first terminal and associated facilities began in January 2019, with an initial completion target of December 2021, as per the original Development Project Proposal (DPP). However, during a progress review meeting on June 25, 2025, Rear Admiral Masud Iqbal, Chairman of the Payra Port Authority, announced that the terminal, connecting road, and a bridge over the Andharmanik River would be fully operational by July 1, 2026. The port, located in Charipara, Laluwa Union, Kalapara Upazila, Patuakhali District, is being developed by China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation, China Harbour and Channel Engineering Bureau, and China Shipbuilding Industry Corporation. So far, 7,381 crore 76 lakh taka has been spent on the port’s development. **Two LNG Cargoes Approved** In the same meeting, the committee approved the import of two liquefied natural gas (LNG) cargoes from Singapore and South Korea, costing a total of 989 crore 37 lakh taka. Each cargo equates to 33 lakh 60 thousand million metric British thermal units (MMBTU) of LNG. The purchase from Gunvor Singapore Private Limited, at $11.97 per MMBTU, will cost 502 crore 95 lakh taka, while the purchase from South Korea’s Posco International Corporation, at $11.95 per MMBTU, will cost 486 crore 42 lakh taka. Additionally, approval was granted for a package under the "Construction of Inland Container and Bulk Terminal at Khanpur, Narayanganj (First Revised) Project," with a budget of 288 crore 9 lakh taka. This contract was awarded to a joint venture of Spectra Engineers and SS Rahman International Limited. **No More Symbolic Land Transfers**

Finance Adviser Salehuddin Ahmed announced that government land will no longer be sold at symbolic prices. He emphasized that any entity acquiring government land must pay its full market value. This statement came in response to a proposal to transfer 54.99 acres of land from the closed Jalil Textile Mills in Chattogram to the Bangladesh Army for the expansion of the Bangladesh Ordnance Factory (BOF) at a nominal price. Salehuddin clarified that while the land transfer to the army was approved in principle, the proposal must include a proper valuation. He stressed that symbolic pricing leads to misuse, and full payment ensures responsible use.