Decision on Chattogram Port management on Wednesday, says Advisor Sakhawat

NBR Unity Council has withdrawn the protests even before any discussion were needed, authorities will sit with them once they present their demands, he says

Shipping Advisor M Sakhawat Hossain has said a final decision regarding the management of the New Mooring Container Terminal at Chattogram Port will be made on Wednesday.

He said this after a meeting of the Advisory Council Committee on Government Procurement on Tuesday.

A platform named “Anti-Imperialist Patriotic People” held a road march from Dhaka to Chattogram this week to oppose foreign companies from being involved in the management of Chattogram Port.

Hundreds of leaders and activists of social, cultural, and left-wing political organisations participated in it.

Addressing the ambiguity in the government notification, which declared the National Board of Revenue (NBR) as “essential service”, Sakhawat said: “The notification you’ve seen is final. There has been no notification before or after this.

“I issued it, but I’m not the decision-maker. They [government] made the decision, and I executed it.

“They [NBR Unity Council] withdrew the protests even before any discussion on whether talks were necessary. We’ll sit once we understand whether they have any demands.”

About the stagnation at the port due to the NBR staff agitation, he said: “The port was not completely closed. The goods that entered the port will now be shipped.

“Although the extent of the damage has not yet been assessed, it seems minimal.”

Regarding the meeting’s decisions, Finance Advisor Salehuddin Ahmed said: “A decision has been made on container handling at Chattogram Port. Purchase of DAP and urea fertilisers has been approved.

“If LNG is available, it will help increase fertiliser supply. Approval has also been granted to renovate 30 schools in Rangpur.”

There would be “no miserliness” in the allocation of funds for the upcoming national elections, he added.