Home
+
Published : 22 Jun 2025, 02:05 AM
A newly-formed platform named Samrajjobad Birodhi Deshpremik Janagan, or Anti-Imperialist Patriotic People, has announced a two-day road march from Dhaka to Chattogram to protest against foreign involvement in the management of Chattogram Port.
The march will also mark protests against the proposed humanitarian corridor into the wartorn Myanmar state of Rakhine, and the launch of Starlink internet service in Bangladesh.
The platform, backed by several left-leaning political groups, announced the programme at a press conference in Dhaka on Saturday.
Ruhin Hossain Prince, general secretary of the Communist Party of Bangladesh (CPB), said the road march will begin at 9am on Jun 27 from the National Press Club in Dhaka.
The march will make stops in Narayanganj and several points in Cumilla for street rallies and processions, culminating in a rally in Cumilla on the first day, followed by an overnight stay in Feni.
On Jun 28, the march will resume and move through Mirsharai and Sitakunda, before concluding with a final rally in front of Chattogram Port.
Prince said the march has been organised in response to the government’s decision to lease management of the New Mooring Container Terminal at Chattogram Port to a foreign company.
He also criticised the government’s openness to establish a humanitarian corridor for Rakhine and the approval given to US-based Starlink to provide satellite internet services in Bangladesh.
“This is not a permanent platform. It has been formed solely to organise the road march,” he said, adding that several political alliances, including the Left Democratic Alliance, Democratic Cultural Alliance, and other leftist groups, are supporting the initiative.
Prince warned that foreign control over key infrastructure such as Chattogram Port would threaten Bangladesh’s sovereignty, increase unemployment by replacing local labour, and erode national capacity.
He also alleged the emergence of a mafia network within the port system and demanded full state control over its operations.
Citing global examples, he claimed that privatisation in such strategic sectors leads to rising operational costs and financial liabilities, which ultimately burden the public.
The CPB leader expressed concern that the proposed humanitarian corridor in Rakhine, under pressure from Western powers, particularly the United States, could entangle Bangladesh in geopolitical conflicts.
“Though framed as humanitarian, the corridor is clearly aligned with Washington’s strategy to encircle China. This would drag Bangladesh into proxy conflicts involving India, China, Pakistan, and other powers,” he said, warning that the country could be forced into military involvement against Myanmar.
Turning his attention to the government’s approval of Starlink, Prince claimed the satellite internet company engages in military surveillance and geopolitical intelligence work.
“Starlink is not just a benign internet provider. It has played a key role in supporting US and Israeli military operations in Ukraine and the Middle East,” he said.
He also expressed suspicion over government moves concerning Saint Martin’s Island and criticised recent proposals inviting Turkey and Qatar to build arms manufacturing facilities in Bangladesh.
Prince said the platform will reconsider the march if the government withdraws from these “anti-national plans” and addresses our demands.
“Otherwise, we will continue our fight with the support of all patriotic forces to protect our national resources and sovereignty. We will not hand over our land and seas to foreign powers.”
