Ctg BNP urges govt to scrap move to lease NCT to foreign operator

Leaders of BNP' Chattogram city unit have urged the government to cancel its move to lease out the New Mooring Container Terminal (NCT), the largest and most well-equipped terminal of Chattogram Port, to a foreign operator.

During a rally organised by the Jatiyatabadi Sramik Dal's Port unit this morning in front of Bandar Bhaban's main gate, the party's city unit Member Secretary Najimur Rahman said, "Leasing out the NCT to a foreign operator is not the task of the interim government."

The rally was staged to protest the government's move to hand over the terminal to UAE-based global port operator DP World.

Prior to the rally, a procession was also brought out from the Port High School ground, which paraded through several adjoining streets.

Terming NCT as an "equipped and modern terminal", Najimur said there is no need to lease such infrastructure to a foreign operator.

"If NCT is handed over, a huge amount of foreign currency earned as revenue through the terminal will be lost to other countries," he said.

The BNP leader also urged the chief adviser not to proceed with the handover "being convinced by any corner based on misinformation."

He also condemned actions taken by the port authority against the party leaders, including former publicity secretary of BNP's labour wing Jatiyatabadi Sramik Dal (Port unit) Humayun Kabir, for participating in the movement.

The port authorities issued a show-caught against Humayun Kabir for participating in a protest over the decision to lease out the NCT to a foreign operator.