Protest March to PM’s Office Unless US Trade Deal and DP World Lease Are Cancelled

The Anti Imperialism and Anti War Alliance held a rally demanding the cancellation of all unequal foreign deals. These include the trade deal with the United States and the deal to lease the New Mooring Container Terminal of Chattogram port to DP World. The rally was held at the Central Shaheed Minar yesterday.

The rally protested the plan to run an open pit coal mine in Phulbari and the plan to build an LNG terminal by destroying the Sundarbans. It also demanded an end to moves to bring Bangladesh into international military alliances. The rally announced a two month programme of meetings, rallies, marches and public contact programmes in districts and upazilas.

It also announced that if the demands are not met within this time, a protest march and a memorandum submission to the Prime Minister’s Office will follow a rally in Dhaka in late December.

Mr. Bazlur Rashid Firoz, coordinator of the alliance and general secretary of the Socialist Party of Bangladesh (BASAD), presided over the rally. Speakers included Mr. Sajjad Zahir Chandan, president of the Communist Party of Bangladesh (CPB) and a central leader of the alliance. Others who spoke were Mr. Shubhrangshu Chakrabarty, coordinator of the Anti Fascist Left Front and coordinator of Samyabadi Andolon, and Mr. Iqbal Kabir Jahid, general secretary of the Revolutionary Communist League of Bangladesh.

The speakers also included Mr. Mushtaq Hossain, standing committee member of Bangladesh JSD, and Mr. Masud Rana, chief coordinator of the Socialist Party of Bangladesh (Marxist). Ms. Mosharefa Mishu, general secretary of the Democratic Revolutionary Party, spoke too. So did Mr. Harunar Rashid Bhuiyan, a BASAD (Mahbub) leader, Mr. Shahidul Islam, general secretary of the Socialist Party of Bangladesh, Mr. Abdul Ali, executive president of the Socialist Party of Bangladesh, and Mr. Rajat Huda of the National People’s Front.

CPB general secretary Mr. Abdullah Al Kafi Ratan conducted the rally.

Veteran left leaders Mr. Manjurul Ahsan Khan, Mr. Khalequzzaman, Mr. Mujahidul Islam Selim and Mr. Md. Shah Alam were present at the rally. Economist Mr. Anu Muhammad, CPB’s Mr. Ruhin Hossain Prince and poet Mr. Mohan Raihan were also there, along with leaders of various student, youth, women, labour, farmer, cultural and professional organisations. Mr. Bazlur Rashid Firoz announced the written declaration, proposals and the movement’s programme at the rally.

The leaders said the unequal trade deal made with the United States by the interim government has put the country’s economy, freedom, sovereignty and national security under threat. They alleged that the present BNP government is carrying out the deal by ignoring public opinion. They also said the 11 party alliance, including Jamaat e Islami and the NCP, is in effect supporting the deal instead of opposing it.

The rally alleged that the terminals of the country’s main seaports are being leased one after another to foreign companies. The leaders said this creates a chance for foreign control over the port, an important part of the country’s economic infrastructure.

Speakers said that during the mass uprising the slogan “Delhi or Dhaka” was raised, but the present government is following an “America First” policy. They alleged that the ruling class is moving the country out of the influence of one imperialist power and making it dependent on another. They also criticised the rise in the cost of the metro rail project and the giving of its contract work to a company from Delhi.

The leaders said they stand against the plan for an open pit coal mine in Phulbari and the plan to build an LNG terminal by destroying the Sundarbans. They also demanded an end to moves to bring Bangladesh into international military alliances.