CHATTOGRAM, Dec 5: Workers under the banners of the Sramik-Karmachari Oikya Parishad (SKOP) and the Left Democratic Alliance took to the streets in Sagarika on Friday, protesting the leasing of Laldia, Pangaon and New Mooring terminals to foreign operators.
The rally, held amid heightened tension surrounding port reforms, announced a red-banner procession towards Chattogram Port to demand the cancellation of ongoing lease procedures.
The gathering was presided over by SKOP Joint Convener Kazi Sheikh Nurullah Bahar and Jatiyatabadi Sramik Dal's Chattogram divisional General Secretary, while Trade Union Centre (TUC) leader Fazlul Kabir Mintoo conducted the programme.
Speakers included Tapan Dutt, President of TUC Chattogram district; SK Khoda Tutan; TUC leader Mosihuddowla; Jamaluddin of Jatiyatabadi Sramik Dal; and labour leaders Kazi Anwarul Huq, Helaluddin Kabir and Abu Ahmed Mia. They demanded immediate scrapping of agreements already signed with foreign firms for operating potential CPA container terminals.
Workers' resistance has been growing for weeks. On November 26, union groups enforced a blockade to oppose the government's decision to lease out Laldia and Pangaon terminals, and the plan to hand over the profitable New Mooring Container Terminal (NCT) to another foreign operator. Hundreds of workers blockaded Boropol and the Toll Road area from 10am, paralysing traffic on port-adjacent routes.
Fresh agitation programmes will be announced on December 5 following the High Court's verdict, said Tapan Dutta, Convenor of the TUC's Chattogram chapter and member of the Labour Reform Commission.
The unrest comes against the backdrop of recent deals signed by the Chattogram Port Authority (CPA). On November 17, the CPA inked a 33-year design-build-operate concession with APM Terminals (Maersk) for Laldia in Patenga, involving an investment of $550 million, and a 22-year operate-and-maintain contract with MEDLOG for Pangaon, worth $40 million. A third deal with DP World to operate NCT is expected by December through an unsolicited process.
Workers and experts argue that bypassing competitive bidding violates the Public Procurement Act 2006, echoing past concerns over the Patenga Container Terminal (PCT), which remains underutilised nearly two years after being leased to Saudi operator RSGT. Meanwhile, the High Court on December 4 delivered a split verdict on the legality of the NCT contract. Senior judge Justice Fatema Nazib declared the process illegal, while Justice Fatema Anwar ruled it valid, saying petitioners lacked grounds to challenge it. The Chief Justice will now form a new bench to settle the matter.
