An organization called the ‘Bandar Sanjukta Sramik Karmachari Federation’ has alleged that the Chattogram Port is being gradually handed over to foreigners. They said that the autocratic government has already handed over the Patenga Container Terminal to a private company in Dubai on the basis of an agreement. This has left the port’s NCT and CCT in their hands. They fear that more parts of the port will go to foreigners in the future. This will not only cause the country to lose a large amount of revenue, but also make 7,000 workers unemployed. This will lead to famine in those families.
The leaders of the organization made this allegation at a press conference at the Chattogram Press Club on Saturday (December 7). Present at the time were Chattogram Division Workers’ Party President AM Nazim Uddin, Port Sanjukta Sramik Karmachari Federation General Secretary Kazi Sheikh Nurullah Bahar, and Joint General Secretary Taslim Hossain Selim.
The organization’s General Secretary Nurullah Bahar said that the port’s betaterminal is being handed over to an American company. They are inviting American companies. In this way, no one will be able to enter there in the future. They will hire workers like them. And the government will lose revenue. Patenga Terminal is being given to a Saudi Arabia-based company. If the terminal is given to foreigners in this way, no one will know who the enemy is. The workers will not know either because no Bangladeshi workers will be kept there. Therefore, we think that the country's independence and sovereignty and the security of the port will be threatened. America wants to set up a base here. Then our neighboring country will carry out an aggressive act here. Therefore, to protect the country's independence and sovereignty, we will request you not to hand over the port to these foreign companies. He said, I will tell the government that giving the port's location to others, diverting it is not your jurisdiction. You will do the routine work. The elected government will do these. He said, Brigadier General (retd) Sakhawat Hossain was imposed on us because he made a controversial statement. He is already making connections with various private companies. Salman F. Rahman has taken hundreds of crores of taka in commission. Similarly, those who are currently there are also jumping for commission. Matarbari Deep Sea Port has been given to a Japanese company. At the same time, he also announced a protest with thousands of workers on December 22.
He also said that the countries with which Sheikh Hasina has entered into conflict agreements should not be kept alive. They should be put to rest.
Joint General Secretary Taslim Hossain Selim said in a written statement that even in the Corona situation of 2020, Chattogram Port was upgraded to 58th place among hundreds of ports in the world by handling more than 28 lakh containers which was the result of the tireless work of the workers and employees of this port. The net income of the port in the 2022-23 fiscal year was 4,438 crores and in the 23-24 fiscal year, the net income was 4,473 crores 73 lakhs taka. In the 4 months of the current fiscal year, 1,643 crores 85 lakhs taka was earned which is 21.85 percent more than the same period last year.
He further said, we have noticed with regret that the previous autocratic government of Hasina and her notorious private advisor Salman F. Rahman had planned to privatize the port. As part of that, their associates appointed at various levels of the administration are continuing the conspiracy to privatize the port. The port was built with its own funds but is being left to the foreign sector. We want to say that private companies are able to earn profits by using the facilities. So why is the port reluctant to increase revenue by using its own manpower despite its capacity?
The Patenga Terminal agreement should be canceled and the port should be managed under its own principles. At this time, he said, the plan made by the autocratic Hasina to hand over the CCTO and NCT terminals to a Dubai-based private company cannot be allowed to be implemented. A group is continuing its mischief to implement these anti-national and suicidal decisions for the sake of self-interest.
At the same time, he said that the Chattogram Port Authority has been deducting levies for a long time to ensure all other welfare facilities including gratuity fund for workers and employees. We think that the friends of tyranny are trying to destabilize the Chattogram Port by misinterpreting an ongoing issue. They are trying to implement a far-reaching plan by inciting the workers and employees. He also raised a few demands. These are that the port should start recruiting people for the 4,500 vacant posts in a short time. Recruitment through outsourcing should be stopped. All workers and employees belonging to the labor branch should be given 60 duty gratuities equal to two months and provident fund of 1,000 taka should be deducted every month. The port should be given its own identity card as per the MU agreement.
NCT and CCT should book lacing workers on the basis of three shifts and wages should be determined on the basis of productivity.