DP World’s Global Track Record Under Scrutiny
A sit-in protest was staged in front of the main gate of Chittagong Port yesterday, with demonstrators demanding the cancellation of a draft agreement to lease the Newmooring Container Terminal (NCT) and its overflow yard to Dubai-based foreign operator DP World. Organised by the Port Protection Committee, the peaceful programme drew thousands of workers, trade union leaders, and residents despite early morning heavy rain and thunder. Organisers kept the event concise to prevent public inconvenience, while security forces maintained a heavy presence around the area.
Addressing the demonstration, trade union and political leaders strongly criticized the draft proposal to transfer operations of the NCT, an essential asset constructed using the Chittagong Port Authority’s own funds. Speakers questioned the necessity of handing over a highly profitable and efficiency-proven strategic infrastructure to a foreign company, expressing concern over potential threats to national economic sovereignty and security. They highlighted that earnings generated from the NCT have historically funded major national maritime infrastructure projects across the nation.
In his presidential address, Tapan Dutta, President of Trade Union Centre Chittagong District and Convener of the Port Protection Committee, expressed deep dismay at the administration’s policy direction regarding the core assets. ‘This is our cash cow; why should we eliminate it?’ Mr. Dutta questioned during his speech, reminding the gathering that public protests against leasing out the NCT and the Chittagong Container Terminal have a long history, during which previous administrations were repeatedly forced to yield to public opposition and worker demands.
Escalating their protest movement, union leadership announced a siege program targeting the Chittagong Port Chairman’s office at 11:00 AM on October 13. Furthermore, leaders of the Jatiyatabadi Sramik Dal warned that hasty efforts are currently underway to finalize and sign the controversial lease agreement on Thursday, October 8. They cautioned that if the contract is signed in disregard of worker demands, the port could face an immediate shutdown, with the Port Chairman bearing full responsibility.
Former Port CBA Secretary Kazi Sheikh Nurullah Bahar alleged that the current Port Chairman is actively pushing to finalize the lease in favor of DP World, demanding his immediate withdrawal from the post. He clarified that the movement is not aimed against the government itself, but against those misleading the administration. Meanwhile, leaders from the Jatiyatabadi Sramik Dal questioned the rationale behind the lease, stating, ‘Matarbari Deep Sea Port, Payra Port, Pangaon Terminal, and Bay Terminal were built using earnings from the NCT. Why, then, should the NCT be handed over to a foreign company?’
Speakers from various political and labor organizations, including the Communist Party of Bangladesh, SKOP, and specialized dock unions, emphasized that local workers and management have driven the port’s growth. Action Council Joint Conveners Ibrahim Khokon and Humayun Kabir argued that long-term lease decisions must account for economic gains, job security, and labor rights. The leadership collectively urged all workers and citizens to unite for upcoming programs to stall any adverse decisions regarding national port infrastructure.
