The Appellate Division of the Supreme Court has scheduled a hearing for Sunday, February 15, to review a leave-to-appeal petition challenging the High Court’s decision to support the government’s leasing of the New Mooring Container Terminal (NCT) at Chattogram Port to UAE firm DP World.
Chief Justice Zubayer Rahman Chowdhury, leading the Appellate Division bench, postponed the hearing to Sunday due to the anticipated lengthy proceedings, as stated by the petitioner’s counsel Md Anwar Hossen to The Daily Star.
Representatives from Bangladesh Jubo Arthanitibid Forum, including senior lawyers Ahsanul Karim, Syed Mamun Mahbub, Ehsan A Siddiq, and lawyer Anwar Hossain, presented the appeal to the Appellate Division opposing the HC’s ruling, while Acting Attorney General Md Arshadur Rouf and Additional Attorney General Aneek R Haque represented the government.
The Forum’s petition requests an injunction to preserve the current situation regarding the NCT contract awarded to DP World. Barrister Anwar highlighted that finalizing the contract just before the election constitutes an unjust and arbitrary use of executive power by the government.
Failure to maintain the status quo in awarding the NCT contract under the prevailing circumstances would result in substantial harm to the petitioners and the broader public interest, Anwar emphasized.
Previously, on January 29, Justice Md Rezaul Haque, a chamber judge of the Appellate Division, took no action on a petition filed by Bangladesh Jubo Arthanitibid Forum against the HC decision, which sought to freeze the entire leasing process.
