NCT lease move a threat to national interest

The government’s move to lease the New Mooring Container Terminal (NCT) at Chattogram Port to a foreign operator would harm the country’s long-term national interest, said speakers at a seminar yesterday.

They alleged that a similar move during the interim government’s tenure was halted following protests, but the current government was pursuing the same path.

Tap here to add The Daily Star as a trusted source

The remarks came at a seminar titled “Chattogram Seaport and National Interest”, organised by Media and Civil Rights Society, a rights-based group.

Prof Anu Muhammad, an economist and organiser of the National Committee to Protect Oil, Gas, Mineral Resources, Power and Ports, said, “Even as the governments change, we see no real difference. The same policies remain in place.”

“National institutions, including the Navy and private operators, have already shown the capacity to handle the port. If properly planned and run by the state, the port could stand as a foundation of national capability. However, no government has taken that path,” he said.

“The necessary changes involving customs, bureaucracy, and infrastructure have nothing to do with bringing in foreign companies,” he added.

He urged journalists, experts, activists and educational institutions to expose what he described as “sugar-coated propaganda” around projects such as Teesta, Phulbari, Rooppur and Chattogram Port.

Moshahida Sultana Ritu, associate professor at Dhaka University, expressed concern that policy discussions remained stagnant even as negotiations over new terminal operations continued.

Abdullah Al Kafi Ratan, general secretary of the Communist Party of Bangladesh, accused successive governments of sacrificing national interests for party and personal agendas, saying their guiding philosophy had been “subordination to US imperialism”.

Amar Desh journalist Sohag Kumar Biswas said handing over NCT to a foreign company would result in a large share of the port’s income going to the operator while permanent expenses would remain with the port authorities.

Under the proposed arrangement, import-export earnings would be deposited directly into the operator’s account, he said.

He said with changes in revenue sharing, extension of the tenure from 15 to 30 years, and shifting responsibilities, the port’s net earnings would fall by nearly 74 percent.

Garments Workers Union general secretary Satyajit Biswas also spoke.