Protest in Dhaka over NCT DP World deal; police baton charge to disperse demonstrators
Several organisations, including the Communist Party of Bangladesh and Basad, protested the 15-year concession agreement with UAE-based DP World to operate Chattogram port’s New Mooring Container Terminal.
Police dispersed a protest rally with batons in the capital today (8 October) as several organisations protested against the signing of a concession agreement with UAE-based DP World to operate Chattogram port's New Mooring Container Terminal (NCT).
The concession agreement between Chattogram Port Authority and DP World was signed around 3:30pm at the Invest Bangladesh office in Agargaon, Dhaka.
Under the 15-year agreement, DP World will operate and maintain NCT and its Overflow Container Yard.
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Around the same time, the Communist Party of Bangladesh (CPB), Bangladesh Samajtantrik Dal (Basad), Ganatantrik Odhikar Committee, Bangladesh Chhatra Union and several other organisations were holding a protest rally outside the Invest Bangladesh office.
Several protesters, including Ganatantrik Odhikar Committee member Seema Dutta, CPB President Sazzad Zahir Chandan, Moniruzzaman Milon, Basad central committee member Manisha Chakraborty and Bangladesh Chhatra Union leader Asif Zaman, were injured in the incident, according to organisers.
However, Sher-e-Bangla Nagar police station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Md Monirul Islam told The Business Standard that left-wing activists had blocked a road in Agargaon over the agreement, disrupting traffic.
"Police later removed them from the road. No baton-charge took place," he said.
The agreement was signed under the public-private partnership (PPP) framework.
NCT is Chattogram Port's largest container terminal and handled around 44% of the port's container volume in 2025.
In a statement sent to the media, Ganatantrik Odhikar Committee member Marzia Prabha said the previous Awami League government had initiated the process of handing over the terminal to DP World despite NCT being profitable under local operators.
She alleged that the interim government formed after the fall of the Awami League government had moved to expedite the agreement, prompting left-wing and democratic organisations to launch protests against the move.
According to her, the government eventually signed the agreement today despite opposition from the protesting organisations.
She also alleged that police attacked protesters during the demonstration outside the Invest Bangladesh auditorium.
Marzia further criticised the government over what she described as concessions to foreign powers, citing the government's handling of a trade agreement with the United States and plans to purchase Boeing aircraft from the US and Airbus aircraft from France.
She also criticised the government for signing the DP World agreement despite opposition from port workers and concerns over national sovereignty.
CPB President Sazzad Zahir Chandan, who was present at the protest, told the media, "This agreement amounts to selling Bangladesh. DP World has links with the US Navy. If you visit their website, you will understand the matter."
He said such an agreement should be made only after considering the national interest and reiterated his opposition to the deal.
Meanwhile, left-wing organisations have announced a torch procession from in front of Mukti Bhaban at 6:30pm today to protest the police action.
In a statement issued after the torch procession, the CPB said at least 15 people were injured in the police action and received primary treatment at Shaheed Suhrawardy Medical College Hospital.
The party alleged that police attacked protesters while CPB President Sazzad Zahir Chandan was addressing the rally.
The CPB said its leaders and activists, along with members of the Ganatantrik Odhikar Committee, Samrajyabad O Juddho Birodhi Jote and Ganatantrik Chhatra Jote, took part in the demonstration.
At a rally following the torch procession from in front of Mukti Bhaban in Purana Paltan, CPB General Secretary Abdullah Kafi Ratan criticised what the party described as police action against protesters.
He said the party would continue opposing the agreement to hand over NCT operations to a foreign company, which it described as non-transparent.
Opposition to the DP World deal has also intensified in Chattogram in recent days.
Port workers and several organisations have threatened to halt operations at Chattogram Port, including vessel movements up to Kutubdia outer anchorage, if the government proceeded with the agreement.
The Chattogram Bandar Rokkha Sangram Parishad and other worker organisations have demanded that the government cancel the 15-year concession process and hold discussions with port workers and other stakeholders before handing over operations of the terminal to a foreign operator.
The government, however, has proceeded with the agreement, under which DP World will upgrade, operate and maintain NCT and its overflow container yard for 15 years.
