Ministry of Shipping

The Ministry is currently focused on the urgent need to modernize and integrate the country's fragmented port management systems to enhance trade competitiveness.

Ministry of Shipping oversees both the shipping sector and the Bridges Division (সেতু বিভাগ) under the same state ministerial assignment. State Minister Md. Razib Ahsan (BNP) won Barishal-4 (Hijla-Mehendiganj) with 128,322 votes in the 13th national parliamentary election (February 2026); he is central general secretary of Swechchhasebak Dal. The full minister for the shipping portfolio is Sheikh Rabiul Alam (also holds Road Transport and Railways). The dominant crisis of the 90-day window was the January 2026 Chattogram Port NCT strike over the DP World lease (6 days, Tk 3,000 crore economic loss, 11,000+ export containers stranded, 115 ships queued); the government resolved it by pivoting to a landlord model and rejecting outright foreign operator handover. Teknaf Land Port: import halt began April 2025 after Arakan Army took control of Naf River; first cargo (timber) arrived May 1, 2026, but $9 million trader funds remain stuck in Myanmar. Mongla Port recorded its best-ever first-half container performance (FY2025-26). staff_count and disaggregated BDT budget figure for the Ministry of Shipping for FY2025-26 not available from primary sources consulted.