POBNEWS24, Dhaka, Oct 7, 2026 : The process of handing over the largest and most important New Mooring Container Terminal (NCT) of Chittagong Port to DP World, a United Arab Emirates-based port management company, has reached its final stage. Amid intense opposition, protests and agitation, preparations have been made to sign a 15-year concession agreement with the company on Thursday (October 8, 2026). A signing ceremony has been organized by the government with DP World at the Investment Bangladesh Auditorium in the capital Dhaka in the afternoon. However, the entire process has been going on in secrecy for a long time. Even the terms and conditions of the agreement are being kept secret. Under the agreement, the responsibility of operating and maintaining the Overflow Container Yard (OCY) along with the NCT is also to be given.
The government’s Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs approved the 15-year draft concession agreement for the operation and maintenance of the NCT and the Overflow Yard on October 1. Although the name of the operator was not mentioned in the official announcement, discussions were already underway with Dubai-based DP World on this issue. Last June, the Shipping Ministry directed the Chittagong Port Authority to continue discussions with DP World. Earlier, on November 15, 2025, during the Dr. Yunus government, a secret agreement was signed in a hotel in the capital Dhaka and long-term leases were given to two foreign companies at the Laldia Char Terminal and Pangaon Terminal of the Chittagong Port.
Various left-wing political parties, including the Left Democratic Alliance, have been in the field for a long time opposing the handover of the NCT to foreign companies. Earlier, leaders of left-wing parties including the Communist Party of Bangladesh (CPB), BSD, BSD (Marxist), Revolutionary Communist League, Democratic Revolutionary Party had called for a united movement against the decision to lease the NCT.
Recently, even after the draft agreement to appoint a foreign operator to operate the NCT was approved, objections have been raised by the left-wing parties. They said that the terms of the agreement, financial benefits, security and long-term impact of the agreement should be made public before handing over the responsibility of operating the country’s strategic and important port infrastructure to a foreign company.
The Chittagong Port Protection Committee held a sit-in program in front of the port building on October 5, demanding the cancellation of the agreement. CPB Chittagong District President Ashok Saha and leaders of various political and labor organizations were present at the program. The protesters demanded the cancellation of the decision to hand over NCT and OCY to a foreign operator.
Earlier, after the government approved the draft agreement on October 1, the Port Protection Committee expressed strong anger and condemnation. The leaders of the organization questioned why a profitable terminal would be handed over to a foreign company.
The Chittagong Port Protection Sangram Parishad has also been opposing this process for a long time. The organization has announced a program of even tougher agitation if the agreement is not canceled. From the program on October 5, the protesters also warned that they would stop port activities on October 8.
Security analysts, researchers, lawyers, civil society and student representatives have also objected to the NCT lease. At a roundtable discussion held at the National Press Club on October 1, speakers raised questions about the financial and strategic implications of the proposed deal. Some participants claimed that the government could lose revenue if the lease was granted to DP World.
Meanwhile, the left parties and various civic organizations have also demanded that the full terms of the deal be made public. They said that since Chittagong Port is the country’s main seaport, transparency and public interest need to be prioritized in any decision on the long-term management of its critical infrastructure.
NCT is the largest of the four container terminals operating at Chittagong Port. Last year, about 44 percent of the containers handled at Chittagong Port were handled through NCT. Since July 2024, Chittagong Drydock Limited (CDDL), a state-owned enterprise under the control of the Bangladesh Navy, has taken over the management of the terminal. Container handling there has been steadily increasing since then.
As a result, opposition from political parties, labor organizations, and civil society has intensified over the decision to hand over the long-term management of this profitable and strategically important terminal to a foreign company.
The government has said that the country’s interests will be given utmost importance in managing the NCT. Chittagong Port Chairman Rear Admiral SM Moniruzzaman had said in July that no concessions will be made to protect the country’s interests in the negotiations with DP World.
As per the approval of the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs, the project is to be implemented as a 15-year operation and maintenance concession under a public-private partnership framework.
However, on the eve of the agreement, opponents say that the agreement may further increase the controversy in the future if it is not only a change of operator but also the financial structure of the agreement, revenue sharing, security, employment, control of the port authority and management of assets at the end of the term.
On the one hand, the protesters demand cancellation of the agreement, on the other hand, the government’s decision to move forward with the agreement. In this face-to-face situation, the signing of the 15-year concession agreement with NCT on Thursday will mark the beginning of a major change in the future management structure of Chittagong Port.
