The lease agreement for the New Mooring Container Terminal (NCT) with DP World will not be finalised during the current interim government’s tenure, Ashik Chowdhury, chairman of the Bangladesh Investment Development Authority (BIDA), has announced.
Speaking at a press conference on Sunday afternoon, Chowdhury stated that the timeframe is insufficient to conclude the deal.
Negotiations and time constraints
Chowdhury noted that DP World has requested additional time from the interim government. “We have only two working days remaining in our tenure. Therefore, it is not possible to conclude the deal within this timeframe,” he added.
Although the project was first initiated in 2019, the final negotiation phase only began approximately one month ago and remains ongoing. Officials at various levels of the government are continuing discussions with DP World, but Chowdhury emphasised that completing the process will require more time.
Seaport operations are at a standstill While negotiations remain in progress, the country’s principal seaport has effectively come to a standstill.
A work stoppage that commenced at 8am on Sunday has resulted in the suspension of cargo handling and operational activities across jetties, yards, terminals, administrative buildings, and the outer anchorage.
Worker unrest and student protests
In an attempt to address the situation, port authorities instructed around 200 general employees and workers to attend an emergency meeting at the port building’s conference room at 9:30 am on Sunday. However, the protesters rejected the call.
The current paralysis follows a demonstration on February 5, during which a group of students at Dhaka University burned photographs of Shipping Adviser M Sakhawat Hossain and three others at the base of the Raju Sculpture.
The protesters branded the officials as “economic hitmen” over the controversial issue of leasing the terminal.
