The Chattogram city unit of Bangladesh Sramik Kalyan Federation today demonstrated in the port city today, opposing the alleged plan to hand over the New Mooring Container Terminal (NCT) of Chattogram Port to foreign entities without a transparent international tender process.

Witnesses said the leaders and workers of the federation formed a human chain outside the Chattogram Press Club at 10:00am to protest the issue.

The labour leaders warned that the move threatens national security and economic sovereignty.

SM Lutfor Rahman, central assistant general secretary of the federation and president of its Chattogram city unit, chaired the event and stressed the port's critical importance.

Chattogram Port is the country's main seaport. Naturally, the sovereignty and independence of Bangladesh are closely tied to this port, Lutfor asserted.

"The deep conspiracy to lease out this port to international powers without any open tender, under the guise of 'development', is still ongoing. We will not tolerate any kind of conspiracy concerning this port," he added.

Lutfar said they are trying to hand over the Chattogram Port to foreigners under the guise of development.

"They want to tell us that we do not want development. We want development, but that development should not in any way question the independence and sovereignty of this country. The autocratic Sheikh Hasina government planned to hand over this port to a foreign power," he said.

"The cronies of that autocratic government are rushing to complete Sheikh Hasina's unfinished work," he added.

The federation leader said, "We want to clearly inform the government that a clear plan must be presented to the nation to make the Chattogram Port an international standard port. The country must manage this port. If necessary, a foreign operator can be appointed, but it must be through an open tender. We will not allow this port to be handed over to any secret document."

"The port authority has completely unjustly taken away the fair right of these workers to form a trade union. We are calling for the immediate return of the workers' right to form a trade union. This port is a profitable institution," he added.