Economist Prof Anu Muhammad has criticised the government’s move to involve a foreign company in operating Chattogram Port, saying the initiative appears to put foreign interests ahead of Bangladesh’s national interests.
“It seems imperialist interests come first – the interests of the United States, American interests or Trump’s interests. The people of Bangladesh did not vote for this,” he said.
The government often talks about putting “Bangladesh first”, but its actions appear to suggest “Bangladesh last”, Anu said.
He was speaking at a discussion titled “Chattogram Port and National Interest”, organised by Media and Civil Rights Society at the Tafazzal Hossain Manik Mia Hall of the National Press Club on Tuesday.
Calling Chattogram Port the “heart” of the country’s economy, Anu Muhammad said handing over the operation of such a strategically important facility to a foreign entity could have serious implications.
He said the Bangladesh Navy and local private companies had already demonstrated their ability to operate the port.
According to Anu Muhammad, improving the port’s efficiency requires reforms in customs, bureaucracy and infrastructure. Bringing in a foreign operator, he said, would not directly address these problems.
He also cautioned against viewing the issue solely from an economic perspective, saying foreign involvement in the port has political and military dimensions as well.
“Port operations should be developed based on national interests and national capabilities,” he said.
Referring to protests by port workers and employees, Anu Muhammad said their resistance had helped protect the port during the interim government’s tenure. He urged them to continue their efforts to safeguard national interests.
Capacity expansion questioned
At the discussion, Dhaka University teacher, economist and researcher Moshahida Sultana Ritu said Bangladesh was developing several new ports and terminals, including Matarbari Deep Sea Port, Bay Terminal, New Mooring and APM Terminal at Laldia.
The country currently has container-handling capacity of around 40lakh TEUs, with plans to raise it to 86 lakh TEUs by 2035, she said.
However, she questioned whether such a large capacity would be needed, saying that the projection should be reviewed in light of changing economic conditions.
Expected growth in imports and exports has not materialised due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the Russia-Ukraine war and successive global crises, she said.
Moshahida Sultana said the port’s problems go beyond capacity constraints. Delays in customs clearance, container and truck congestion and inadequate rail connectivity are also major bottlenecks.
Simply building more terminals without addressing these problems may not bring the expected benefits, she said.
‘Port is more than a revenue source’
CPB General Secretary Abdullah Al Kafi Ratan said Chattogram Port should not be assessed only in terms of revenue and expenditure.
“The issue is also linked to national interests and ownership of public resources,” he said.
Harun-or-Rashid, general secretary of the Maulana Bhashani Parishad, said foreign involvement in port operations also raised national security concerns.
He said people had the right to know who was being given control of public assets and under what terms.
Nagorik Oikko organising secretary Sakib Anwar, Biplab Chhatra Moitri President Dilip Roy, Democratic Students’ Council President Sayedul Haque Nishan and CBA leader Nurullah Bahar, among others, also spoke at the event.
