Calling NCT deal ‘selling the country’ baseless, says Commerce Minister

Commerce Minister Khandaker Abdul Muktadir has defended the 15-year agreement with Dubai-based DP World to operate Chattogram Port’s New Mooring Container Terminal (NCT), saying the deal is intended to increase the terminal’s capacity and improve efficiency.

Describing the agreement as a deal to “sell the country” is baseless, he said on Friday.

The minister made the remarks while responding to journalists after a discussion and financial assistance distribution programme organised by Sylhet City Corporation ahead of Durga Puja.

The 15-year concession agreement to operate the NCT, the largest terminal at Chattogram Port, was formally signed on Thursday. The deal has drawn criticism from various quarters.

Muktadir said the agreement was aimed at improving port efficiency and making Bangladesh more competitive in attracting investment.

“To attract foreign investment and new investment from domestic entrepreneurs, we must make our production and export costs competitive with those in other countries,” he said.

The minister said the government had assured that no existing port workers would lose their jobs under the agreement. He added that improved efficiency would benefit workers and help increase their earnings.

Asked about Bangladesh’s declining position in the US garment market, Muktadir said China had consistently remained a leading apparel exporter to the United States and the European Union.

He said Vietnam had sometimes overtaken Bangladesh in garment exports, partly because of its free trade arrangements, while Bangladesh had regained its position on previous occasions.

Sylhet road development

Speaking at the event, Muktadir said Sylhet City Corporation had approximately 800 kilometres of roads across its 42 wards. Around 450 kilometres had undergone development work, while another 300 to 350 kilometres remained to be developed.

The government was planning a major project to develop the remaining roads, he said.

“Work that has taken 55 years to complete will not require another 110 years. We are preparing a project to undertake the remaining work and aim to complete it within the next three to four years,” he said.

The minister also described Bangladesh as a homogeneous nation, saying shared characteristics, customs, language and communal harmony were among the country's strengths.

Financial assistance for Durga Puja

Sylhet City Corporation Administrator Abdul Qayyum Chowdhury, who chaired the programme, said the corporation worked for public welfare and provided various services to city residents.

He said ensuring that people of all religious communities could celebrate their festivals was part of the corporation’s responsibility.

The corporation had taken various measures to ensure the smooth celebration of Durga Puja, the largest religious festival of the Hindu community, he added.

Sylhet City Corporation Chief Executive Officer Mohammad Rezai Rafin Sarkar delivered the welcome address.

Among those who spoke were Sylhet Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sarwar Murshed Shamim, Deputy Commissioner Mohammad Abdullah Al Mamun, Sylhet Metropolitan BNP General Secretary Imdad Hossain Chowdhury, Jalalabad Gas Transmission and Distribution System Ltd Director Badruzzaman Selim, Ramakrishna Mission and Ashram head Swami Chandranathananda Maharaj, Hindu Religious Welfare Trust trustee Sudip Ranjan Sen Bappu, and Bangladesh Puja Udjapan Parishad central vice-president Mrityunjoy Dhar Bhola.

At the event, the commerce minister distributed financial assistance among representatives of 85 Durga Puja mandaps in Sylhet city. Each mandap received 40,000 taka, bringing the total allocation to 3.4 million taka.