“We Won’t Hand Over the Port to Foreigners”: SKOP Leads Torch Procession in Chattogram

A torch procession has been held at the initiative of the Chattogram District Committee of the Workers-Employees Unity Council (SKOP) in protest against the possible process of handing over Chattogram Port to foreign companies.

On Saturday (15 November) evening, the procession started from Halishahar Nayabazar intersection and ended in the Baropool area.

More than a hundred workers and employees participated in the march with torches in hand. At that time, the entire area rang with the slogan “We will not hand over the port to foreigners.”

SKOP leaders said that the process of leasing out the NCT (New Mooring Container Terminal) and Laldia Char is against national interests. They claimed that if the security, sovereignty, and economic control of Chattogram Port go into foreign hands, it will harm the long-term interests of the country. SKOP, which has been protesting these decisions from the beginning, said that if the government does not give a clear explanation to the public, the movement will be intensified.

Port employees also joined the procession and chanted slogans opposing the handover of the port to foreign operators. They claimed that handing the port over to foreigners instead of relying on domestic manpower and expertise is unreasonable.

During a recent visit to Chattogram, the Naval Transport Adviser said, “The government has taken various policies regarding port development. Foreign investment does not necessarily mean the transfer of ownership.”

However, labor leaders said that, in reality, there is an ongoing policy initiative to lease out the NCT and Laldia Char to foreign operators. They warned that if this process is not stopped, a larger movement will be organized.

Chattogram Divisional Workers Party Joint General Secretary Ibrahim Farazi said, “Chattogram Port is the lifeline of the country’s economy. If NCT and Laldia Char are handed over to foreigners, the control capacity here will become weak.”

Worker Jahir Ahmed, who participated in the procession, said, “With the skills of domestic workers, Chattogram Port has become one of the busiest ports in South Asia. If operations are handed over to foreigners, thousands of workers will become unemployed. This cannot be allowed to happen.”

After the march, the leaders again demanded a clear explanation from the government and announced that a united movement would continue against decisions that go against national interests.