Rally in Dhaka against foreign takeover of Chittagong Port

New Mooring Container Terminal of Chattogram Port. Photo collected

Dhaka, Oct 23 – Leaders of several political parties have warned of street protests if the government moves forward with the plan to hand over the New Mooring Container Terminal of Chittagong Port to foreign companies.

Speaking at a protest rally organised by 'Desh Bachao, Bandar Bachao Andolan' in front of the Jatiya Press Club on Wednesday, they accused the government of conspiring to lease key national assets to foreign interests.

The rally drew participation from leaders of various political organisations, including the Biplobi Workers Party, Gono Adhikar Parishad, Bangladesh Jatiya Dal, Gono Forum, Amar Bangladesh Party (AB Party), Bangladesh LDP, and Jamiat Ulama-e-Islam Bangladesh.

Saiful Haque, General Secretary of the Biplobi Workers Party, criticised the ongoing activities concerning the Chittagong Port, saying that thousands of crores of taka are transacted daily through the New Mooring Container Terminal, generating significant revenue for the state.

He alleged that there is a conspiracy to hand over control of this vital infrastructure to foreign entities.

Issuing a 72-hour ultimatum to the interim government’s shipping adviser, Saiful Haque demanded the suspension of any agreements with the Dubai-based company allegedly involved.

He warned, "As an independent nation, we cannot hand over Chittagong Port to foreign companies. The government must prioritise national interest and the well-being of the people."

Nurul Haque Nur, President of Gono Adhikar Parishad, expressed dismay that such discussions were even necessary following the mass uprising that led to the formation of the interim government.

He called for local companies to continue managing the ports, stating, "Domestic companies are still operating the ports effectively—there is no need to bring in foreign firms, which would result in significant job losses."

Other speakers also echoed similar sentiments.

Syed Ehsanul Huda, Chairman of the Bangladesh Jatiya Dal, warned that handing over Chittagong Port to foreign interests could lead to long-term economic and political consequences.

He also criticised the perceived influence of foreign powers on the current government, particularly India.

Subrata Chowdhury, Co-Chairman of Gono Forum, pointed out that both the High Court and Appellate Division have previously ruled against leasing Chittagong Port to foreign companies.

He also mentioned that Mongla Port faces similar threats.

Mujibur Rahman Manju, Member Secretary of the AB Party, stressed the port's importance as a national asset, urging the government to focus on improving local capabilities instead of outsourcing operations.

"If we lack the skills, we must develop them. Thousands of jobs will be at risk if foreign companies take control," he said.

Shahadat Hossain Salim, General Secretary of Bangladesh LDP, called on the shipping adviser and the Chittagong Port Authority to stop any further talks of foreign leasing, adding that such actions would not be tolerated by the people. - UNB