Chittagong Port’s Key Terminal: DP World Deal Faces Fresh Protests
A major agreement for Chittagong Port is set for today, Thursday. DP World, a large port operator from the UAE, will sign a deal. They will manage the New Mooring Container Terminal (NCT) for 15 years. The signing takes place at 3:00 pm at a city auditorium.
DP World will collect fees from users. It will pay the port authority a one-time fee. The company will also pay a charge for each container moved. The government has not yet shared full details of this agreement.
NCT will be the third container terminal at Chittagong Port leased to a foreign operator. Saudi Arabia’s Red Sea Gateway Terminal operates Patenga Terminal. Denmark’s APM Terminals also has a contract for Laldia.
The NCT was finished in 2007. It can handle four large ships and one smaller ship at once. Local companies have operated this terminal using short-term contracts.
The search for a foreign operator for NCT began in 2008. The Awami League government stopped this plan, then restarted it. An initial agreement was signed in 2019.
The interim government sped up the leasing process. But port workers protested. DP World also needed more review time. Thus, the deal was not signed before that government left.
The new BNP government took office in February. They continued the leasing process. On October 1, a government committee gave final approval for the 15-year agreement.
Port workers are strongly protesting this lease. They protested during the interim government. They wanted an elected government to make this decision. Now, the Port Protection Movement is protesting again.
Leaders warned on Monday that they would shut down Chittagong Port today. They demand the NCT lease plan be cancelled. Protesters held a torch procession yesterday in the port area.
The New Mooring Terminal handles a large part of port traffic. Last financial year, it managed about 1.385 million containers. This was 44 percent of the port’s total container traffic.
Zafar Alam, a former port board member, spoke about the deal. He said DP World must invest in new infrastructure. This includes better transport routes to and from the port. Improved rail links and inland depots are also vital. Such steps would help DP World operate better and boost trade.
