Protesting workers vowed to continue their indefinite strike at Chattogram port, even after the interim government announced on Sunday that it would not sign a lease agreement for the New Mooring Container Terminal (NCT) with DP World during its tenure.
Leaders of the Chattogram Bondar Rokkha Shongram Porishad said late on Sunday that the all-out work stoppage would remain in force, arguing that several of their demands were still unmet.
They cited issues including the suspension of 14 workers, the arrest of five others, punitive transfers and the cancellation of housing allocations.
The protesters said, however, that they had decided to suspend street demonstrations until 14 February, citing the interim government’s decision to step back from the lease deal.
Earlier the same day, the Public Private Partnership Authority Chief Executive Officer Chowdhury Ashik Mahmud Bin Harun said DP World had asked for additional time to review the draft concession agreement.
He said the company had written to Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus earlier in the day seeking more time for an internal review.
The announcement was made at an afternoon press briefing in Dhaka, against the backdrop of mounting controversy, sustained protests and near-paralysis at the country’s main seaport.
With only two working days left for the interim government ahead of the national election, Ashik Chowdhury said completing counterpart reviews and securing advisory council approval within such a short timeframe was unlikely, leaving the process for the next elected administration.
He added that the draft had been intensively worked on across multiple layers of government and that further negotiations could continue later.
The developments followed a sharp escalation in tensions on Sunday morning, when port workers launched an indefinite strike that once again brought operations at Chattogram Port to a standstill.
Container congestion worsened rapidly as the renewed strike began at 8am. By that time, the yard stock at Chattogram Port Authority had surged to 41,087 TEUs, up from 35,342 TEUs on January 30, marking a 16.25% increase in just a few days.
The pressure also intensified at private facilities, with export-bound container stock at Chattogram’s 21 inland container depots rising to 12,483 TEUs, compared to the usual level of around 8,000 TEUs, a 56% increase.
Operations at the outer anchorage were severely disrupted, the Bangladesh Ship Handling and Berth Operators Association reported. Its chairman, Sarwar Hossain, said only vessels nearing the end of their discharge were operating at a limited pace, approximately 10% of normal activity. Around 65 vessels, carrying essential commodities like wheat, sugar, corn, soybeans, lentils, and industrial raw materials, were waiting at the outer anchorage.
Protesters warn of revenue loss
The protesters have outlined several financial and procedural grievances regarding the proposed NCT lease. They claim that under the current model, the Chattogram Port Authority earns about $161.82 per TEU by operating the terminal itself. However, under the proposed revenue-sharing arrangement, earnings would drop by around $48 per TEU, resulting in net income of roughly $17.18 per TEU.
With the NCT handling about 1.3 million TEUs annually, they estimate a potential annual revenue loss of around $62.49 million, or nearly Tk750 crore, which would undermine the port’s largest existing revenue stream.
“It makes no sense to hand over such a profitable terminal at Chattogram Port, already built by the authority, to a foreign company for minimal returns,” said movement coordinator Humayun Kabir. “Direct operation of the NCT is financially stronger, and we will not accept any deal that reduces the port’s current earnings.”
Shipping Adviser M Shakhawat Hossain told TIMES of Bangladesh on Saturday that he could not comment on the resolution adopted by the CPA Finance Committee regarding revenue sharing in the proposed NCT agreement. He stated that if any such decision had been made, the PPP Authority would be able to clarify it, adding that he had not been provided with full information on the matter. He also mentioned that discussions had focused on ensuring earnings do not fall below the current average.
Meanwhile, repeated attempts to contact Ashik Chowdhury for further comment were unsuccessful, as he did not respond to calls or messages seeking clarification on the revenue-sharing structure and the financial concerns being raised.
Business leaders, who have long supported the idea of bringing in an efficient and transparent international operator at the NCT, have also questioned the interim government’s urgency in leasing an already built national asset through an unsolicited deal. They argue that a competitive process could yield better terms for the state.
