DP World NCT Lease Could Cause $90m Yearly Loss: Students for Sovereignty
A research team of Students for Sovereignty has claimed that Bangladesh could face an annual financial loss of around $90 million if Chattogram Port’s profitable New Mooring Container Terminal (NCT) is leased to Dubai-based company DP World. According to the group, the leasing process could also create risks to national security, geopolitics and economic sovereignty.
The claims were made at a discussion meeting organised in the national interest on the leasing process of NCT, sovereignty and potential economic losses. The meeting was organised by Students for Sovereignty on Wednesday at the Tafazzal Hossain Manik Mia Hall of the National Press Club.
BNP Chairperson’s Adviser Habibur Rahman Habib, Gono Forum President and Senior Advocate Subrata Chowdhury, Commodore (retd.) Mohammad Jasim, Parbattya News Editor Mehedi Hasan Palash, and representatives of various political, social and student organisations spoke at the meeting.
The main statement and a written research paper were presented by Students for Sovereignty Convener Mohammad Ziaul Haque and members of the organisation’s research wing. Speakers said the decision to hand over NCT to a foreign company is not in line with the national interest. They said the move could put the country’s economic interests, as well as national security and strategic interests, at risk.
The meeting called for the cancellation of the process to lease NCT to DP World and demanded that Chattogram Port be operated through domestic capabilities.
