Around 200 dock workers have intensified a strike at Chattogram, Bangladesh’s largest port, protesting the interim government’s plan to lease operating licenses to foreign companies. The walkout, which began in October with a smaller number of participants, has grown amid concerns over job security and management changes.
The interim administration is negotiating agreements with UAE-based DP World for the New Mooring Container Terminal and Danish shipping giant A.P. Moller–Maersk for the Laldia Container Terminal. Officials argue that foreign operators would improve efficiency, boost revenue, and modernize the port, a key hub for Bangladesh’s export-driven garment industry.
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Striking workers, however, expressed doubts about the interim government’s authority and feared potential restructuring or layoffs. “Do they even have the mandate? They are an interim government,” said Iliyas Bhuiyan, one of the dockers. Some industry representatives support the move, citing the need for global expertise to expand port capacity and strengthen Bangladesh’s trade reputation.
Critics argue that leasing the terminals undermines decades of local management. Azam J. Chowdhury, chairman of the Bangladesh Ocean Going Ship Owners’ Association, said, “It makes no sense to lease the terminals that we developed and have been operating for the past 40 years.” The interim government, which took over following the 2024 uprising, will be replaced after elections in February 2026, adding urgency to the ongoing debates over the port’s future.