Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami working committee member and Chattogram City Ameer, ex-MP Shahjahan Chowdhury today spoke at S Rahman Hall of Chattogram Press Club. Photo : BSS

CHATTOGRAM, April 20, 2025 (BSS) - Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami working committee member and Chattogram City Ameer, ex-MP Shahjahan Chowdhury alleged that deep conspiracy is underway over the New Mooring Container Terminal (NCT) of Chattogram Port.

Shahjahan Chowdhury demanded that the NCT of Chattogram Port to be managed by the port itself instead of leaving it to private or foreign ownership.

He made the demand while delivering written statement at a press conference, organized by Chattogram City Jamaat-e-Islami at S Rahman Hall of Chattogram Press Club this afternoon.

"The evil eye of Salman F Rahman, the private industry and investment adviser of the previous autocratic Sheikh Hasina government, has fallen on the NCT, the main driving force of the country's revenue earning sector,” he said.

“Salman F Rahman, one of the country's most notorious money launderers and the main financier of the Sheikh family, took strong steps to destroy all the country's profitable institutions, including the banks, and hand over the last NCT to foreigners,” he alleged.

Referring to the agenda of the fallen government, he said even though the fascist government has fled the country, the people of that government, who are hiding in various places in the government, are trying to hand over the NCT to foreign institutions by giving misleading information to the current government to destroy the country's revenue earning sector and to attack the country's sovereignty.

Describing the importance of NCT in port, Shahjahan Chowdhury said, “The main driving force of Bangladesh’s economy is Chattogram Port.

“Over 92 percent of the country's imports and exports are being done through this port. Nearly 55 percent of the total cargo handling of Chattogram Port is done at the NCT. Chattogram Port is earning huge revenue through this terminal. NCT earned Tk 1,367 crore in the last fiscal year (2023-24). If the NCT of Chattogram Port is handed over to foreigners, it will be bad for the national economy and politics of Bangladesh,” Chowdhury said.

He also alleged that the stability of Chattogram Port will be destroyed and workers’ dissatisfaction will arise.

“The image of the country before the foreign market will be damaged. Frustration will increase among the currently working skilled workers,” he alleged.

“Above all, the Bangladesh Navy’s military base is located next to this terminal. This could be a threat to the national security and privacy,” Shahjahan Chowdhury added.

City Jamaat-e-Islami Nayeb Amir Mohammad Nazrul Islam, Secretary Principal Mohammad Nurul Amin, Assistant Secretaries Principal Maulana Khairul Bashar, Mohammad Ullah, Faisal Muhammad Yunus and Morshedul Islam Chowdhury and Organizing Secretary Principal Shamsuzzaman Helali, among others attended the press conference.