Govt moves to lease out NCT to UAE operator amid mounting protests

After signing agreements with two foreign operators for the Laldia and Pangaon terminals, the government is now moving ahead with its plan to lease out the New Mooring Container Terminal (NCT), the largest operational facility of Chattogram port, to another foreign operator.

Preparations are underway to finalise an agreement with UAE-based DP World by December, despite widespread protests over the plan.

The Chittagong Port Authority (CPA) has proposed forming a seven-member committee to evaluate the tender for operating NCT under a Public Private Partnership arrangement.

On November 16, CPA Secretary Md Omar Faruk sent a letter to the shipping ministry seeking approval for the committee, to be headed by Additional Secretary Md Mahbub Alam Talukder, also the CPA board's member (finance).

On Monday, the CPA signed two major agreements in Dhaka: one with APM Terminals, a concern of Denmark's Maersk Group, for building and operating the Laldia Terminal under a 33-year concession; and another with Switzerland-based Medlog SA to operate the Pangaon Inland Container Terminal for 22 years.

A High Court hearing on the rule concerning the legality of the CPA's ongoing process to appoint a foreign operator for NCT is scheduled for today.

The rule followed a writ petition filed earlier this year by Bangladesh Jubo Arthanitibid Forum.

Constructed in 2007 at a cost of Tk 2,712 crore for civil works and equipment, NCT is one of the largest terminals at Chattogram port and now handles a major share of the country's import and export containers.

It is currently operated by Chittagong Dry Dock Limited, an entity of the Bangladesh Navy, which will continue managing the terminal until a foreign operator takes over.

A torch procession was brought out in Chattogram last evening demanding an immediate halt to the leasing out of existing port terminals, including NCT and the Chittagong Container Terminal (CCT), to foreign operators.

Workers and employees from the port joined the procession organised by Bandar Raksha Parishad, which marched along the Port Connecting Road. Protesters later blockaded Boropool Mor, temporarily disrupting traffic.