The road leading to the administrative building of Chattogram port was blocked on Monday as several hundred political and workers’ rights activists joined a sit-in against plans to hand over the port’s terminals to foreign operators.

The Chattogram Bandar Rokkha Sangram Parishad organised the day-long programme, which began around 11:20am.

Chattogram Metropolitan Police (CMP) Bandar Police Station Officer-in-Charge Abdur Rahim said 180-200 protesters staged a demonstration and that police remained on alert to tackle any untoward incident.

The protesters blocked vehicular movement on the road and chanted slogans including “Go back DP World” and “No foreign operator for profitable port terminals”.

Police and port security personnel were deployed in large numbers at the site.

The protesters called for the cancellation of a proposed 15-year concession agreement with an international operator for the operation and maintenance of the New Mooring Container Terminal (NCT) and its overflow yard.

They also demanded that the government withdraw plans to hand over the Chittagong Container Terminal (CCT) and General Cargo Berth (GCB) to foreign operators.

The demonstration comes amid growing opposition from port workers and other stakeholders to plans of involving foreign operators in key terminals at Chattogram Port.

The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs gave in-principle approval on October 1 to the draft concession agreement for the NCT and its overflow yard.

Fazlul Kabir Mintu, member secretary of the Chattogram Bandar Rokkha Sangram Parishad, said at Monday’s programme that the government should make public a comprehensive and transparent comparative assessment before handing over the NCT under a long-term concession.

The assessment should cover the terminal’s potential revenue under state management, capacity enhancement, automation, operational efficiency and potential financial benefits to the state, he said.

The protesters also demanded the withdrawal of what they described as “harassing and false” cases filed against port labour leaders and an end to administrative harassment of workers involved in the movement.

Ibrahim Khokon, coordinator of the Parishad, warned that Chattogram Port and operations up to the Kutubdia outer anchorage would be shut down if any agreement on the NCT is signed.

“We do not want any instability. We want to cooperate with the democratic government. But you must understand the people's pulse and give priority to their opinion,” he said.

Humayun Kabir, joint coordinator of the Parishad, said the NCT is a profitable sector of the port and they do not want any part of the port, including the NCT, to be handed over to foreign operators.

“If this agreement is signed, a large amount of foreign currency will flow abroad. Many workers will lose their jobs. Rather, our workers are skilled. If they are given training, they will be able to operate the port more efficiently. Bangladesh will not be deprived of earning foreign currency,” he said.

He further said there is no scope for further development or investment at the NCT. “There is no reason to hand it over to foreigners. We have a torchlight procession scheduled for October 7. The next phase of the movement will be decided from there.”

Tapan Dutta, president of the Chattogram unit of the Trade Union Centre and a leader of the Sramik Kormochari Oikya Parishad (SKOP), announced a series of programmes to intensify the protests.

The workers will hold a torch procession on October 7 and plan further programmes on October 13, including actions involving the port chairman, he said.

The protesters said they want the government to resolve the issue through dialogue before the situation escalates.