Ctg Port Protection Committee stages hunger strike demanding halt to lease plans for 2 terminals

Leaders of the Chattogram Port Protection Committee today (18 July) staged a symbolic hunger strike, demanding that the government halt plans to lease two terminals at Chattogram Port.

The two facilities are the New Mooring Container Terminal (NCT) and Chittagong Container Terminal (CCT).

The programme began around 11am at the Chattogram Press Club and is scheduled to continue until 4pm.

Speaking at the programme, committee Convener Delwar Majumdar said the port was a national asset that should remain under public ownership.

"The government is the elected representative of the people and should stand with the people. Our movement is aimed at ensuring that national assets are protected in the interest of the country," he said.

He alleged that multinational companies had long sought to exploit Bangladesh's strategic assets and claimed that previous public movements had exposed attempts by what he described as "fake" foreign operators to gain control of port facilities.

"If these terminals are handed over, most of the port's revenue will go to foreign operators while only a small portion will remain for the people of Bangladesh," he said, adding that the port area also contains critical military, civilian and energy infrastructure.

Kazi Sheikh Nurullah Bahar, general secretary of Jatiyatabadi Sramik Dal Chattogram divisional unit, alleged that port authorities were exaggerating concerns over equipment conditions to justify appointing a foreign operator.

"Chattogram Port is Bangladesh's principal seaport. If it falls into foreign hands, the country could face economic and security risks," he said, urging the government to reconsider the proposal.

Tapan Dutta, president of the Chattogram district committee of the Trade Union Centre (TUC), said workers, students, intellectuals and citizens across the country had united in opposition to the proposed lease.

"Those who sign such an agreement will be seen as acting on behalf of foreign interests," he said.

The programme was moderated by Port Protection Committee Member Secretary Fazlul Kabir Mintu and attended by

Communist Party of Bangladesh Chattogram district President Ashok Saha, TUC Joint Secretary Iftekhar Kamal Khan, Dock Jatiyatabadi Sramik Dal General Secretary Taslim Hossain Selim and NAP leader Mitul Dasgupta among other leaders of various labour, political and professional organisations.

The committee has previously organised human chains, rallies, press conferences, roundtable discussions, black-flag processions and submitted memorandums to the prime minister over the same issue.

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.