DP World deal put on hold, but port protesters refuse to budge until cancelled
Police have detained five of the protesting workers while the CPA suspended 14 employees
Highlights
- Interim government says NCT lease deal will not be signed during its tenure
- Port workers refuse to lift indefinite strike, demanding full cancellation of proposal
- Chattogram Port shut for the second time in a week
- The standoff paralyses over 90% of the country's trade
- Export goods worth an estimated Tk6,500 crore remain stuck ahead of Ramadan
- Situation deepened as protesting workers detained, suspended
- Business leaders warn of heavy losses, order cancellations
The interim government today (8 February) announced that the controversial deal to lease the New Mooring Container Terminal (NCT) to UAE-based DP World would not be signed during its tenure, yet port workers have refused to budge, insisting their indefinite strike will continue until the proposal is cancelled entirely.
Bangladesh Investment Development Authority Executive Chairman Chowdhury Ashik Bin Harun said at a press briefing in Dhaka today that the lease agreement with DP World "is not going to happen" under the current administration.
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However, the standoff has brought Chattogram Port, which typically handles more than 90% of the country's international trade, to a grinding halt for the second time in a week, leaving export containers worth an estimated Tk6,500 crore stuck across various depots and terminals and threatening fresh disruption to trade just a week ahead of Ramadan.
The Bandar Rokkha Sangram Parishad (port protection movement council) vowed to maintain the blockade, which resumed at 8am today, until a formal withdrawal of the "probable deal" is secured.
Meanwhile, the Detective Branch of police today detained five of the protesting workers. They were later shown arrested with Bandar police station under Section 54, according to case documents seen by TBS. The police, however, did not confirm the arrest.
The Chattogram Port Authority (CPA) also suspended 14 employees and cancelled the allotted staff housing of other employees who were earlier transferred to Mongla and Payra ports.
The Parishad urged the government and port authorities to reconsider both the NCT agreement and the treatment of employees. It warned that until these issues are addressed, the strike will continue as planned.
'No lease agreement for now'
Bida Executive Chairman Chowdhury Ashik said DP World had received the draft concession agreement and sought additional time for a detailed review, making it realistic that negotiations would extend beyond the upcoming national election and continue under the next government. Although discussions have reached their final stage after years of talks since 2019, finalising such a major concession agreement requires more time, he added.
Ashik clarified that the Public-Private Partnership Authority, which he also chairs, is not a commercial partner but a facilitator between the CPA and the nominated company under a government-to-government framework. DP World, a fully state-owned enterprise of the UAE, has expressed optimism about the direction of the negotiations in a letter sent on Saturday, he said.
Trade paralysis
The strike triggered a massive logistical backlog, threatening to disrupt the supply of essential commodities and exports. Port users and trade bodies reported that operations at all three terminals and the outer anchorage remained fully suspended.
As of today, export containers totalling 13,483 TEUs remained stuck at inland container depots, with another 1,400 TEUs expected to enter the depots, while more than 41,000 TEUs were congested at terminal yards. Over 90 vessels, including 40 carrying food grains and other essential commodities, were left waiting at the port and outer anchorage.
A scheduled meeting between port workers and Chattogram Port Authority (CPA) Chairman Rear Admiral SM Moniruzzaman at the port auditorium in the morning failed after labour leaders announced a boycott, alleging that workers were being pressured by law enforcement agencies to resume operations.
Despite these claims, the CPA chairman claimed that port operations were normal. Speaking at a press briefing around noon, he said workers had returned to duty following a two-hour meeting with port authorities and warned that legal action would be taken against anyone obstructing operations.
However, shipping agents, customs agents, berth operators and ship-handling operators disputed the claim, saying that container handling, cargo delivery and unloading from vessels, including at the outer anchorage, remained fully suspended.
"Not a single TEU has been handled since morning," said Humayun Kabir, a coordinator of the movement council, rejecting the chairman's statement.
Trade bodies echoed the claim, with the Bangladesh Inland Container Depot Association confirming that no export cargo was moving to the port and no import cargo was reaching depots.
Businesses voice concern
BGMEA Vice President Abu Tayub warned that prolonged disruption could devastate the readymade garment sector, forcing exporters to shift shipments to costly air freight and risking mass order cancellations.
Former Chattogram Chamber Director Amir Humyun Chowdhury cautioned that delays in clearing Ramadan essentials could worsen the situation, as unloading and nationwide distribution require time.
Stakeholders estimate that recent work stoppages have already caused economic losses of at least Tk3,000 crore.
Major business associations on Saturday appealed to Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus for urgent personal intervention, warning that a fresh shutdown just four days before the 12 February national election could have severe economic consequences.
In an open letter, the Bangladesh Employers' Federation, Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association, Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association and Bangladesh Textile Mills Association described Chattogram Port as the "lifeline of the national economy."
