SKOP slams CPA chief's remarks

CHATTOGRAM, July 02: Leaders of the Sramik Karmachari Oikya Parishad (SKOP), Chattogram, have strongly slammed the Chittagong Port Authority (CPA) chairman's remarks defending the proposed concession of the New Mooring Container Terminal (NCT), accusing him of downplaying public concerns over the plan to involve foreign operators in the management of key port terminals.

In a statement issued on Thursday, SKOP leaders said the CPA chairman was "trying to conceal the reality" instead of addressing concerns surrounding the proposed concession of the country's busiest and most profitable container terminal.

The statement came a day after the CPA chairman said the proposed involvement of UAE state-owned port operator DP World in managing Chittagong Port's New Mooring Container Terminal (NCT) is part of a broader Bangladesh-UAE partnership and no compromise would be made on Bangladesh's national interests in the process of selecting an operator for NCT.

Rejecting that assurance, SKOP said the very discussion over handing the NCT and Chittagong Container Terminal (CCT) to domestic or foreign operators on a long-term concession had become the main source of public concern.

"If the government truly prioritized national interests, there would be no discussion about handing over NCT and CCT to foreign operators," the organisation said. According to SKOP, the strongest safeguard for national interests is to keep the operation, management and control of Chittagong Port under the Chittagong Port Authority (CPA) while continuing to run the terminals with local manpower and expertise.

The organisation argued that NCT has been operating successfully under local management for years and remains one of the port's most profitable terminals.

"It has not been convincingly explained why a foreign operator is needed when the terminal is already being managed efficiently by Bangladeshi officials, employees and workers," the statement said. SKOP alleged that the proposed concession raises concerns over national economic interests, employment, and workers' rights.

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