Dhaka: Bangladesh’s interim government under Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus is facing severe backlash for quietly initiating the lease of Chittagong Port – the country’s economic lifeline handling 92 per cent of sea trade – to foreign companies, with allegations that India, China, and the UAE are among the frontrunners.
Sources reveal that a high-level committee has already shortlisted several international operators, bypassing open tender and parliamentary oversight. Critics, including former shipping minister Shahjahan Khan and Opposition voices, have termed the move a “sell-out” of national assets, warning that it could compromise sovereignty and hand strategic control to foreign powers in the sensitive Bay of Bengal region.
The controversy erupted after leaked documents showed the Yunus administration pushing for long-term leases of key terminals, despite earlier assurances of transparency. Political analysts point out the irony: the same student-led revolution that ousted Sheikh Hasina for alleged corruption is now accused of secretive deals worth billions.
With Bangladesh already under pressure over minority safety and India-Bangladesh ties at a low, the port decision has further inflamed nationalist sentiments. Protests are brewing in Chittagong, with trade unions threatening strikes if the process isn’t halted immediately.
As Yunus defends the move as an “economic necessity” to boost efficiency and revenue, questions mount: Is this pragmatic reform or a dangerous gamble on Bangladesh’s maritime independence?