Port protection body gives two-day ultimatum to halt NCT lease process

BNP-affiliated labour leaders and the Chattogram Port Protection Movement Committee on Saturday issued a two-day ultimatum to halt the process of leasing out Chattogram Port’s New Mooring Container Terminal (NCT) to Dubai-based DP World.
They also announced tougher programmes at a press conference held at a hotel in the city.
The committee leaders announced a human chain from Nimtala Bishwa Road to the port’s One-Stop Centre at 3pm on 22 September and a protest procession from Fakhirhat Gate No. 3 to the One-Stop Centre at 3pm on 27 September.
Their four-point demands also include withdrawing the cases filed earlier against 15 employees and movement leaders, removing officials involved in negotiations with DP World, and resuming recruitment to fill vacant posts at the port.

Committee Coordinator Ibrahim Khokon said the initiative to hand over NCT operations to DP World had been under discussion since 2017.
Khokon alleged that some advisers of the previous interim government had almost finalised the deal in their own interests. He also criticised recent remarks by the Chattogram Port chairman regarding the engagement of DP World in NCT operations and the possibility of sending back expatriates from Abu Dhabi.
Committee Coordinator Humyun Kabir, Nagorik Oikya Chattogram Coordinator Swapan Majumder, SKOP leader Iftekhar Kamal, Mozaher Hossain Shawkat, Merchant Workers Union President Harunur Rashid and Dock Jatiyatabadi Sramik Dal General Secretary Taslim Hossain Selim, among others, attended the press conference.

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