Ctg Correspondent
A torch procession was held in Chattogram on Wednesday evening protesting the proposed handover of the New Mooring Container Terminal (NCT) and its overflow container yard at Chattogram Port to a foreign operator on a long-term basis.
The Port Protection Movement Council and various labour organisations organised the procession after a rally in front of the Chattogram Port Authority building.
Labour leaders demanded that the decision be reconsidered and that workers and other stakeholders be consulted before finalising the agreement. They also called for assessing whether NCT could be operated under domestic management and warned of tougher programmes if their demands were not met.
The organisers announced another protest procession and rally at 3:00pm Thursday in front of the Chattogram Port Authority building.
Meanwhile, preparations are underway to sign a 15-year concession agreement with UAE-based DP World for operating and maintaining NCT and its overflow container yard.
The agreement was scheduled to be signed yesterday at the Invest Bangladesh Auditorium in Dhaka.
On October 1, the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs gave in-principle approval to a draft concession agreement for operating and maintaining the facilities through an international operator for 15 years.
Although the committee did not name the operator, the Public-Private Partnership Authority identifies Dubai-based DP World as the proposed operator. The International Finance Corporation is serving as the transaction adviser. The estimated project cost is US$205 million.
According to published data, NCT handled around 44 percent of Chattogram Port's total containers in 2025.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Shipping instructed the Chattogram Port Authority on September 28 to begin the process of appointing Saudi Arabia-based Red Sea Gateway Terminal as the operator of the Chattogram Container Terminal (CCT).
The proposed duration, financial terms and investment obligations of the CCT agreement have not yet been finalised.
The developments have sparked concern among labour organisations over increased foreign participation in major terminals at Chattogram Port. #EK
