A local company has filed a lawsuit to demand the termination of “secret agreements” with foreign businesses to run Chattogram Port Authority (CPA) container terminals.
According to reports, the deals were made without a floating public tender during Sheikh Hasina’s overthrown dictatorial regime, allowing foreign businesses to manage the facilities constructed with CPA’s own funds.
On Wednesday, Supreme Court attorney Barrister Md. Anowar Hossain sent the Shipping Ministry, Chittagong Port Authority (CPA), and Public Private Partnership Authority with a legal notice on behalf of Md. Rafiqul Islam, owner of the local company Banglamark Corporation.
“Quite a large amount of foreign currency will stream out from Bangladesh besides enshrinking jobs for local manpower if those container terminals are given to foreign operators”, the notice mentioned.
The warning further stated that the country’s security would be at risk due to several critical sites near Chattogram Port if foreign operators were permitted to manage the facilities.
It further stated that competent and seasoned domestic container handling operators will be deprived by such unfair and covert agreements.
Additionally, the notification stated that the government might invite foreign investors to construct new container facilities surrounding the port and hold a public tender for their operations, allowing both local and foreign operators interested in participating to submit a competitive offer.
