Students for Sovereignty organized a protest at Dhaka University campus yesterday, calling for the immediate halt of the government’s plan to lease the New Mooring Container Terminal (NCT) of Chattogram Port to a UAE-based company. The demonstration occurred at the Raju Sculpture near the university’s TSC at 5:00 pm.
Protesters voiced concerns during the event, labeling the terminal lease as “anti-national.” They claimed that it could pose significant threats to national security, internal control, and the economy. A more intense movement was threatened if their demands were not addressed promptly.
Citing a recent report from Bangla daily Bonik Barta, the demonstrators highlighted the government’s intention to transfer the New Mooring Terminal to UAE’s DP World under a concession agreement the following day. This move was strongly opposed by the group.
Muhammad Ziaul Haq, the convener of Students for Sovereignty, accused the interim government of planning to designate the foreign firm not just as a terminal operator but as a concessionaire. Haq expressed concerns that this decision could lead to substantial foreign currency loss for Bangladesh, undermining national interests across various sectors.
Haq further criticized the lack of an open tender process and the exclusion of local companies from bidding, hinting at potential corrupt practices. The protesters warned that the involvement of a foreign company in port operations could result in annual losses amounting to millions of dollars and endanger national sovereignty and security in the long term.
Participants at the rally included joint convener Mohiuddin Rahat, office member Saiful Islam, Zubayedul Islam Shihab, Jabir Bin Mahbub, Al Amin, and several other students.
