Ctg Port Protection Committee demands halt to terminal leasing plans, announces citizens' convention
The committee also announced a citizens' convention on 15 August to build public support for its campaign against the proposed leasing of NCT and CCT.
The Chattogram Port Protection Committee today (3 August) staged a march towards Chattogram Port demanding the cancellation of plans to lease two terminals of the port and any other facilities to domestic or foreign operators.
The committee also announced a citizens' convention on 15 August to build public support for its campaign against the proposed leasing of the New Mooring Container Terminal (NCT) and Chattogram Container Terminal (CCT).
The procession began from the Badamtali intersection in Agrabad and headed towards the port area. Police stopped the march at the Barik Building intersection, where organisers ended the programme with a brief rally.
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Addressing the rally before the march, the committee's convener, Engineer Delwar Majumdar, reiterated the demand that no facilities at Chattogram Port be leased to local or foreign entities.
He also announced that the committee will hold a Port Protection Citizens' Convention at the July Hall of the Chattogram Press Club on 15 August, bringing together workers, business leaders, professionals, academics, journalists and members of civil society.
Former Labour Reform Commission member Tapan Dutta said Chattogram Port is the country's main gateway for imports and exports and argued that handing over its management to foreign or multinational companies could pose risks to Bangladesh's economic security and sovereignty.
He said the port requires modern technology and better management to improve efficiency, but that such improvements do not necessarily require leasing national assets.
Tapan added that any development initiative that undermines workers' interests or national interests would not be acceptable.
Kazi Sheikh Nurullah Bahar, former general secretary of the Chattogram Port CBA and general secretary of the Chattogram divisional committee of the Jatiyatabadi Sramik Dal, said decisions about the port's future should not be taken without consulting workers.
He said port modernisation is necessary but should be carried out while preserving state ownership and protecting national interests.
Taslim Hossain Selim, general secretary of the Jatiyatabadi Dock Sramik Dal, said port workers had kept the port operational for decades and would resist any move that undermined their interests.
Other speakers called for infrastructure upgrades, modern equipment, improved governance and the recruitment of skilled personnel to strengthen the port while opposing any move to lease port facilities to local or foreign operators.
The rally was conducted by the committee's member secretary, Fazlul Kabir Mintu, and attended by leaders of labour unions, political parties and professional organisations, including SM Jamal Uddin of the Jatiyatabadi Sramik Dal, leaders of Socialist Party of Bangladesh (Marxist), the Trade Union Centre (TUC) and dock workers' organisations.
The committee has previously organised torch processions, demonstrations and rallies demanding the cancellation of the proposed leasing of NCT and CCT.
On 4 June, the government instructed the Chattogram Port Authority to continue discussions with Dubai-based DP World on a possible lease arrangement for NCT.
The directive prompted renewed opposition from port workers and stakeholders.
NCT is the largest of the four operational container terminals at Chattogram Port and handled about 44% of the port's container throughput last year.
Since 7 July 2024, the terminal has been operated by the state-owned Chittagong Dry Dock Limited (CDDL), which is controlled by the Bangladesh Navy. Port officials have said container handling at NCT has increased steadily under CDDL's management.
Efforts to hand over NCT operations to DP World under public-private partnership and government-to-government arrangements were first pursued during the previous Awami League administration.
Although the initiative did not materialise at the time, the process regained momentum during the tenure of the interim government.
As negotiations intensified earlier this year, port workers launched protests against the proposed lease.
On 8 February, the interim government announced that the process of appointing a foreign operator for NCT had been suspended.
Following the government's 4 June directive to continue discussions with DP World, the Chittagong Port Authority last week formed a 12-member support team to assist the negotiation process.
