Experts urged mandatory local majority ownership and compulsory technology transfer in foreign investment projects involving Bangladesh’s strategic infrastructure, including seaports, airports, and energy facilities.
The call came during a roundtable titled “Prioritising Domestic Investment in Strategic Assets” held on Tuesday by the Center for Strategic Research (CSR) at a Dhaka hotel. CSR Executive Director Sakib Anwar presented the keynote paper.
Participants included State Minister for Planning Zonayed Saki, member of parliament Fazley Huda Babul, politician Mahmudur Rahman Manna, SHUJAN secretary Badiul Alam Majumdar, former secretary Abu Alam Shahid Khan, and CAB President AHM Shafiquzzaman.
Citing a World Bank report, Zonayed Saki said foreign investments fall short when profits are not reinvested locally and technology is not transferred. “The issue of technology transfer is important to the current government. Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has instructed that national interest must remain above everything else,” he said.
Former secretary Abu Alam Shahid Khan criticised the rapid agreement with DP World for managing the Port of Chattogram. “Although 62 days were available, the agreement was completed in just 13 days. The matter is mysterious and should be investigated by the Anti-Corruption Commission,” he said.
The keynote paper noted that many projects tagged as FDI are financed primarily through domestic loans. The Patenga Container Terminal, for example, saw 59 per cent of investment sourced from domestic and regional financial institutions.
Anwar highlighted the capacity of local firms, citing Bangladesh Navy-owned Chittagong Dry Dock Limited (CDDL) and private firm MGH Group. CDDL demonstrated 46.66 per cent higher productivity at Chattogram Port’s NCT terminal compared to the previous operator. MGH Group generated higher per-container revenue than DP World.
Speakers said foreign firms were lobbying at ambassadorial and head-of-state levels to secure ground handling services at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport’s third terminal, while local logistics firms were not consulted.
“Local majority ownership or joint ventures must be made mandatory in cases involving foreign technology partnerships,” said CSR Programme Director Ektandar Hossain Howlade.
The roundtable also recommended equal opportunities for domestic firms in tenders for strategic projects and the creation of an independent, politically neutral port regulatory authority.
