12-party alliance urges govt not to allow handover of New Mooring Container Terminal, Ctg port to foreign companies
Under no circumstances should the New Mooring Container Terminal (NCT) be handed over, nor should the Chattogram Port be leased to foreign entities, leaders of the 12-Party alliance said today (15 May).
"These must remain under the control of domestic institutions…All conspiracies against national interest must be abandoned…The decision to lease the Chattogram Port to foreign companies would be suicidal," the alliance said in a statement.
"As a vital artery of the national economy, the Chattogram Port must not be handed over to foreign control. Entrusting the country's key seaport, which is also tied to national security, to foreign companies goes against national interests."
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The leaders asserted that the interim government has no authority to make such a major decision related to national interest unilaterally.
The leaders alleged that the government is implementing a fascist regime's decision to allow a foreign company to operate the New Mooring Container Terminal (NCT), which was built with national funds and equipped with machinery bought with the country's own money.
"Why, after 17 years of its construction, must a successful terminal be handed over to foreigners? What is the mystery behind this? Why is the government so eager to implement Sheikh Hasina's decisions? In whose interest is this government acting?" the statement also said.
Stating that concerns over unemployment among local workers have already arisen, the alliance noted that the terminal has a natural capacity to lift and unload 1 million single containers from ships annually. Domestic operators lifted and unloaded 1.281 million containers from ships at this terminal last year.
"Then, whom is the government trying to please, or what conspiracy is it trying to implement by handing the terminal over to foreigners?"
The leaders further alleged that under the G2G-based public-private partnership (PPP) model, a minimum investment of Tk12 crore is required. "Questions have already been raised in the media about where such investment will come from for a terminal that is already fully equipped with machinery.
"Essentially, the interim government is rushing to implement a decision that excludes the country's key stakeholders — possibly to serve some external agenda or conspiracy," the alliance added.
The alliance leaders warned that if the terminal is handed over to a foreign operator, the Chattogram Port's revenue will be slashed by more than half.
"This will either halt or severely damage future development initiatives. Other significant losses include loss of employment for local labor involved in port management, repatriation of profits abroad by the foreign operator, and no opportunity for new foreign investment.
"Ultimately, this is a completely suicidal decision, seemingly driven by nothing other than an international conspiracy."
The 12-party alliance leaders called on the government to immediately withdraw from its decision.
