Public Protest in Dhaka Against Port Deal With DP World

Chennai:

Port Wings News Network:

Bangladesh Police on 8 October dispersed a protest in Dhaka’s Agargaon against the Government’s decision to lease the New Mooring Container Terminal (NCT) at Chattogram port to UAE-based DP World, says a news report in The Daily Star Online.

The protest was organised around 2:00pm by the Anti-Imperialism and Anti-War Alliance, along with several left-leaning political and labour organisations.

As part of their pre-announced programme, the protesters marched from the Agargaon metro rail station towards the Invest Bangladesh office, formerly known as BIDA.

According to The Daily Star photographer at the scene, the protesters gathered in front of the office and obstructed vehicles from entering the building. They chanted slogans against handing over the port terminal to a foreign company. Police later dispersed them.

The Democratic Rights Committee, in a statement condemning the deal and the alleged police action, said several people were injured when police baton-charged protesters.

They included committee member Seema Dutta; Communist Party of Bangladesh President Sazzad Zahir Chandan and leader Moniruzzaman Milon; Bangladesh Socialist Party central committee member Manisha Chakraborty; and Bangladesh Chhatra Union leader Asif Zaman, among others.

The protesters claimed that handing over the container terminal to a foreign company would pose a threat to national security, economic independence and sovereignty. They described the move as a “suicidal decision”.

The statement said the initiative to hand over the profitable terminal to DP World began under the Awami League government and was later accelerated by the interim government. Although the interim government eventually backed away from the move amid protests, the current government signed the agreement today despite continued opposition, it alleged.

The protesters also accused the government of yielding to pressure from “imperialist” countries, citing agreements to purchase Boeing and Airbus aircraft as evidence.

Sher-e-Bangla Nagar Police Station Officer-in-Charge Monirul Islam told The Daily Star that protesters had been lying under vehicles carrying ministers, lawmakers and others in front of the Invest Bangladesh office.

“At one point, police were forced to remove them,” he said.

The OC denied that police had used batons against anyone while dispersing the protesters.

Bangladesh today signed a 15-year concession agreement with DP World to operate and maintain the New Mooring Container Terminal (NCT) and its overflow container yard at Chattogram port.

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