Public consent essential for Chattogram Port decisions: Farhad Mazhar
"The responsibility for agreements over public assets such as the port cannot be left solely to bureaucrats," he says.
Poet, essayist, and thinker Farhad Mazhar has called for all decisions regarding the Chattogram Port to be made with full public awareness, stressing that no secret agreements should be allowed on this crucial national asset.
"The port issue cannot be viewed solely from an economic perspective. It directly concerns military security. The responsibility for agreements over public assets such as the port cannot be left solely to bureaucrats. The public must be clearly informed, and their opinion must be taken into consideration," Mazhar said.
He made the remarks at a discussion titled "Chattogram Port Security vs Politics of Port Inactivity", organised by the Port Security Committee at the Chattogram Press Club today (6 February).
Keep updated, follow The Business Standard's Google news channel
The meeting comes amid protests that began on 31 January against the government decision to hand over operations of the Chattogram Port's largest terminal, the New Mooring Terminal (NCT), to Middle East-based company DP World. The protests led to a six-day work stoppage across the port until Thursday.
Mazhar expressed concern that the work stoppage could be used as justification by foreign partners for the agreement. "The port became inactive due to the movement demanding cancellation of the agreement. This will be a double-edged sword. Now questions of competence and inefficiency are being raised. Why can't we make our workers more skilled? Why is the port being held back?" he said.
He emphasised the need for public clarity regarding the agreement. "We don't know what will happen at the port in case of a military crisis or emergency in the country. From the beginning, I have said we must not only look at the port's economic development but also its role in state and military security," he argued.
He further said, "In every respect, Chattogram Port is like the heart. The Bay of Bengal lies nearby, where India and the US are competing. If we cannot secure the port, we cannot survive in the global arena," he added.
Highlighting the importance of popular sovereignty, Mazhar said, "Power belonged to the people after 5 August, but then we surrendered it to the old system. The people's power has not been established because its meaning is not understood. Now, the government, parliament, or the state can lease assets to foreigners without taking public opinion into account."
The meeting was presided over by Mazhar, convener of the Port Security Committee, and moderated by secretary Major (Retd) Ahmeden Ferdous.
