Port workers stage hunger strike against Chattogram lease plan to foreign operators

By Admin

03 Nov, 2025

Hundreds of port workers launched a mass hunger strike on Saturday to protest the interim government’s decision to lease out Bangladesh’s main commercial seaport in Chattogram to foreign operators. The protest, organized amid rising political tensions ahead of national elections scheduled for February, reflects growing resistance to the government’s port privatization strategy.

Workers Condemn Move as ‘Against National Interest’
“The decision has been taken against the national interest. This decision will not be accepted under any circumstances,” declared Anwar Hossain, leader of the Sramik Karmachari Oikya Parishad (SKOP), while addressing the demonstrators in the port city. Labour leaders, political activists, and civic groups joined the token hunger strike, marking another chapter in a month-long movement against the interim government led by Nobel laureate Professor Muhammad Yunus.

The protests focus on Yunus’s decision to lease the New Mooring Container Terminal (NCT) to UAE-based global operator DP World. Workers argue that the NCT   a vital facility developed with domestic investment and modern technology   is already “the most efficient and profitable terminal” in Bangladesh and should remain under national management.

Bangladesh’s Maritime Lifeline at Stake
Handling over 90% of Bangladesh’s maritime trade, including almost all container traffic, Chattogram Port serves as the lifeline of the country’s export-driven economy. As the world’s second-largest garment exporter, Bangladesh relies heavily on this strategic hub to sustain its industrial growth and international trade connections.

Yunus Government Defends Port Strategy Amid Backlash
Since taking office after mass protests ousted former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, Professor Yunus has argued that partnering with top international operators will strengthen Bangladesh’s competitiveness. “The people we are bringing in to manage the port have not threatened the sovereignty or national security of any country they’ve worked in,” Yunus said in a June address, urging citizens to reject “baseless propaganda.”

He maintains that better-managed ports could transform Bangladesh into a regional logistics hub, expanding trade opportunities with Nepal, Bhutan, and India’s northeastern states.

Foreign Interest and Upcoming Agreements
According to the state-run BSS news agency, DP World has formally expressed interest in operating the New Mooring Container Terminal, while AP Moller–Maersk has shown interest in managing the Laldia Container Terminal on the city’s outskirts.

Shipping Ministry Senior Secretary Mohammed Yousuf confirmed that agreements with these foreign operators are expected to be finalized by December. Additionally, two more facilities   Laldia in Chattogram and Pangaon Inland Port in Dhaka   are planned to be leased out under 25–30 year contracts.

Labour Unions Threaten Escalation
During the hunger strike, SKOP leader and former Chattogram port general secretary Kazi Sheikh Nurullah Bahar urged the interim administration to reverse its decision and safeguard public assets. “The government must protect public resources instead of leasing or selling them off,” he stated.

Workers vowed to intensify their movement if the leasing plan proceeds. “The hunger strike is just the beginning,” warned Hossain. “If the decision is not reversed, we will go for nationwide work stoppages and a blockade of port operations.”

The Bangladesh Ocean Going Ship Owners’ Association (BOGSOA) also criticized the government’s approach. Its chairman, Azam J. Chowdhury, questioned the rationale behind outsourcing operations that local authorities have efficiently managed for decades.

A Flashpoint in Bangladesh’s Political Transition
As tensions rise, the leasing of Chattogram’s terminals   initially envisioned as a step toward modernization   has now become a symbol of national sovereignty and economic control. What was once seen as a reform to improve port efficiency has turned into a political and social flashpoint, underscoring the challenges facing the Yunus-led interim government during Bangladesh’s turbulent path toward elections.