Dhaka, April 18 -- Shipping Minister Sheikh Rabiul Alam has said the government will put public and national interests first as it reviews the proposed deal to hand over operations of the New Mooring Container Terminal (NCT) in Chattogram to a foreign company.

Speaking at an event at the National Maritime Institute in the port city on Saturday, he said that the government was still examining different aspects of the proposed agreement.

"The government is considering the interests of the state and the people, and those will be given priority. The matter remains where it was before. We are analysing its different aspects."

Rabiul said the government was reviewing how national interests could be protected, how the port's security could be...