Protests held in Ctg demanding independence from foreign control over port
A mass protest organised by 'Gonoshonghoti Andolon' was held in Chattogram on Thursday, demanding an end to foreign control over the Chattogram Port.
Speakers at the rally, including Hasan Maruf Rumi, a central political council member of Gonoshonghoti Andolon, alleged that the Chattogram Port authority had entered into a detrimental deal with Saudi-based Red Sea International for the operation of a container terminal.
Despite constructing the terminal at a cost of Tk1,230 crore from its own funds, the Port Authority would only receive $18 per container handled, compared to the $80-90 earned from other terminals.
Rumi claimed that this deal would result in a direct loss of over Tk1,000 crore for the Chattogram Port Authority. He further alleged that certain port officials had warned against this deal as early as 2023, but their advice was ignored, leading to the replacement of the port chairman and the signing of this harmful and anti-public interest agreement.
The speakers alleged that during Sheikh Hasina's 15-year rule, various factions of the Awami League had turned the port into a hub for corruption, causing significant losses to the nation and the port. They demanded a re-evaluation of all agreements signed over the past 15 years and the exposure of corruption within the port.
Dr Apurba Nath, the acting coordinator of the organisation in Chattogram, presided over the meeting.
Jahidul Alam Al-Jahid, a member of the district editorial board, delivered the welcome speech.
Other speakers included Shahid Shimul, joint coordinator of the Chattogram Metropolitan, and Hasan Murad Shah, also a joint convener of the district.