The High Court will deliver verdict on 4 December regarding the process of Chittagong Port Authority’s agreement with a foreign company to operate the New Mooring Container Terminal (NCT).
The date was set on Tuesday by a High Court bench comprising Justice Fatema Najib and Justice Fatema Anwar after hearing arguments on the matter.
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Earlier this year, Mirza Walid Hossain, president of Bangladesh Young Economists Forum, filed a writ petition challenging legality of handing over the NCT to a foreign company. Following the initial hearing, the High Court issued a rule on 30 July.
In continuation, the petitioner submitted an application seeking a status quo on the agreement process between Chittagong Port Authority and UAE‑based DP World for operating the NCT.
The HC, in its rule, asked why the ongoing process of contracting with a foreign company to operate the NCT without allowing local operators and allegedly violating PPP laws and policies should not be declared illegal.
It also asked why instructions should not be issued to ensure fair and competitive public bidding in accordance with relevant laws and policies before assigning responsibility to any operator.
The respondents — secretary of the Ministry of Shipping, chairman of Chittagong Port Authority, and Chief Executive Officer of PPP Authority — were directed to respond to the rule within four weeks.
