The Communist Party of Bangladesh (CPB) joined a protest in Dhaka on 8 October against the agreement to hand over the operation and maintenance of the New Mooring Container Terminal at Chattogram Port to DP World, a company based in the United Arab Emirates.
Communist Party of Bangladesh protests DP world port deal
Demonstrators marched from the Agargaon metro station towards the Invest Bangladesh office, where the agreement was due to be signed. According to media reports, police dispersed the gathering with batons approximately 45 minutes after it began. Several activists were injured, including CPB President Chandan and Seema Dutta.
The agreement, which provides for a 15-year concession, has prompted opposition from left-wing organisations and other critics concerned about the transparency of the process and the implications for Bangladesh’s economic sovereignty. The CPB has described the deal as a surrender of national interests and called for it to be opposed.
Kazi Sajjad Zahir Chandan, president of the CPB, criticised the agreement during the protest, arguing that the government should not transfer control over strategic national infrastructure without proper public scrutiny. The party maintains that decisions concerning the country’s major ports must prioritise Bangladesh’s national interests rather than the commercial interests of foreign companies.
The agreement was signed later that afternoon, despite the protests. Under its terms, DP World will operate and maintain the terminal and its Overflow Container Yard for 15 years. The government has presented the arrangement as a means of modernising port infrastructure, improving efficiency and attracting investment. The terminal handled approximately 44 per cent of Chattogram Port’s container traffic in 2025, making the agreement particularly significant for Bangladesh’s trade.
The dispute also reflects opposition from port workers, who have raised concerns about the proposed transfer and demanded consultation before the agreement was finalised. Their organisations announced further protest action, including a hunger strike, while the Port Protection Committee subsequently called for disclosure of the contract terms and an independent assessment of its financial and technical implications.
(Photo: dhakapost.com)