Dhaka, Nov. 20 -- Two foreign companies tasked with developing a container terminal at Laldia Char in Chattogram and a river terminal in Pangaon will receive up to 10 years of tax-free benefits, the National Board of Revenue (NBR) has confirmed.

NBR Chairman Abdur Rahman Khan said the exemptions fall under existing provisions.

On Monday, the government signed an agreement with Denmark's APM Terminals for the Laldia terminal. On the same day, it sealed a separate deal with Swiss company Medlog for the Pangaon river terminal.

Asked whether the agreements include any new tax waivers, the NBR chief said on Wednesday: "They came to us; we gave our consideration."

When pressed on whether construction materials would be exempted from duties,...