Legal notice served seeking scrapping of secret deals on Ctg port terminal

A legal notice has been served seeking the cancellation of a covert contract awarded to a foreign entity for managing the newly constructed container terminal at Chittagong Port. The agreement, executed without a public tender, has drawn criticism for excluding local operators.

Barrister Md Anwar, a Supreme Court lawyer, has called on the Ministry of Shipping, the Chittagong Port Authority, and the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) authority to annul the deal. The terminal was fully funded by Chittagong Port, yet the prior government handed operational control to foreign container handlers without a transparent bidding process.

The legal notice, served Monday, stresses the need to revoke similar undisclosed agreements that prevent qualified local operators from competing. According to the law firm representing Barrister Anwar, these practices have undermined local industry participation in key infrastructure projects.

The notice also suggests that foreign investors should instead be invited to collaborate on developing new ports and facilities, ensuring fair and transparent processes in future agreements.