Bangladesh initiates the establishment of a fresh inland container depot (ICD) in Ghorashal, Narsingdi district, aiming to facilitate the transportation of rail-based containerised cargo. Anticipated to commence operations by 2026, the ICD will cater to nearby industrial hubs, streamlining the conveyance of raw materials and products to and from neighboring factories.
The Container Company of Bangladesh (CCBL), a state-owned entity, recently invited bids for the multimodal ICD construction on a Design-Build-Finance-Operate-Maintain-Transfer (DBFOMT) basis. Spanning 20,000m² of land owned by Bangladesh Railway, the depot will boast an annual handling capacity of 100,000 TEUs.
Implemented through the public-private partnership (PPP) model, the builder will operate the ICD for 25 years before transferring it to CCBL. Profit-sharing arrangements between the builder and CCBL will be in place during this period. Officials highlight that the ICD will facilitate the movement of rail-based containers to and from Bangladesh and neighboring countries, particularly India.
The ICD will streamline containerised cargo transportation to and from factories in neighboring Mymensingh and Gazipur districts. Currently, Bangladesh Railway operates an ICD in Dhaka, set for relocation in the next five years. Simultaneously, work progresses on another ICD in Gazipur with a 354,000 TEU annual capacity.
Despite legal complications, plans for a rail-ICD in Chittagong are underway. Bangladesh Railway’s future proposal involves constructing an ICD on the western bank of the Jamuna River, aiming to facilitate container carriage from neighboring India, which contributes to Bangladesh’s annual import of goods valued at around US$14 billion.
