The Appellate Division of the Supreme Court on Thursday dismissed a petition seeking leave to appeal against a High Court verdict on the legality of handing over management of the New Mooring Container Terminal at Chattogram Port to a foreign operator.
The order was passed by an Appellate Division bench led by Chief Justice Zubayer Rahman Chowdhury, effectively upholding the High Court ruling that dismissed the challenge to the process.
The court had fixed earlier Thursday to deliver the order after a hearing on Wednesday.
The petition followed a High Court verdict delivered on 29 January by Justice Zafar Ahmed, who disposed of the matter after conflicting opinions from another bench.
Earlier, on 25 November the High Court concluded hearings on a rule questioning the legality of handing over the terminal’s management to a foreign company and set 4 December for judgment.
On that date, a High Court bench delivered a split verdict. Justice Fatema Najib declared the process illegal, while Justice Fatema Anowar dismissed the rule challenging the decision.
Because of the conflicting views, the matter was referred to the Chief Justice, who later assigned the case to Justice Zafar Ahmed for disposal.
Justice Zafar Ahmed subsequently dismissed the rule, prompting the petition seeking leave to appeal before the Appellate Division.
The dispute centred on a government initiative to lease the terminal to Dubai-based global port operator DP World.
The proposal triggered protests by several groups, including Bondar Rokkha Shongram Porishad and Sromik Kormochari Oikka Porishad, which opposed handing over management of the terminal to a foreign entity.
The writ petition challenging the legality of the process was filed by Mirza Walid Hossain on behalf of Bangladesh Youth Economists Forum.
When the interim government moved to finalise the agreement with DP World, protest groups organised work stoppages at the port.
The interim government later stepped back from the proposed deal.
Chattogram Bondar Rokkha Shongram Porishad Coordinator Ibrahim Khokon said the group had not yet issued an official response following the verdict.
“We will sit with all members of the committee and announce our response later,” he said.
