SCOP urges halt to Chattogram Port foreign deal plan

The Sramik-Karmachari Oikya Parishad (SCOP) has urged citizens, political parties, and democratic forces to unite against a proposed agreement to lease Chittagong Port operations to a foreign company, calling the move detrimental to national interest.

The call was made during a press conference at the Chittagong Press Club on Thursday (May 21). SCOP Joint Coordinator Iftekhar Kamal Khan read the written statement. Central and local labor leaders, including Tapan Dutta, Sheikh Nurullah Bahar, SK Khoda Toton, and representatives from the Port Labor Union, were present.

Highlighting Chittagong Port as the lifeline of the economy, the statement noted that the port handles roughly 92 percent of Bangladesh's import and export trade. Labor leaders argued that the facility is a cornerstone of the country's economic sovereignty and security, rather than a mere commercial asset.

"A long-standing conspiracy is underway to hand over vital terminals of Chittagong Port to the foreign corporation DP World," the written statement alleged. "Although the previous interim government halted the agreement following mass public and labor protests, the process has quietly resumed."

According to SCOP, the latest proposal plans to hand over almost all major port operations—including the New Mooring Container Terminal (NCT), Chittagong Container Terminal (CCT), General Cargo Berth (GCB), and the overflow yard—to foreign operators.

The leaders pointed out that both CCT and NCT were built entirely with state funds, local labor, and internal investments. CCT was established and NCT was inaugurated during the tenure of former Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia, and both have since been successfully run by local experts. SCOP rejected claims that foreign firms are necessary to run the port, calling such narratives motivated and false.

The alliance also raised severe national security concerns, reminding the public that Chittagong Port is a designated Key Point Installation (KPI). The zone houses sensitive installations, including Bangladesh Navy bases, the Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation (BPC) oil depot, and the Chittagong International Airport.

SCOP warned that transferring control of these zones to foreign entities risks state security, threatens local employment, weakens port management, and compromises long-term economic independence.

The leadership expressed an urgent interest in meeting with the Prime Minister to directly present their data and alternative proposals. They urged the government to prioritize public interest, safeguard national assets, and address the legitimate concerns of the port workers.