German Voice reported on October 17 that the interim government of Bangladesh plans to lease important trade ports in Chittagong, which has sparked a major controversy. In May, the chief advisor of the interim government, Muhammad Yunus, announced during his visit to Chittagong that the operating rights of the New Mooring Container Terminal (NCT) within the port would be handed over to foreign enterprises. On October 12, Mohammad Yusuf, the senior secretary of the Ministry of Shipping of the interim government, announced that the Laldia port in Chittagong and the Pangaon river port in Dhaka would also be leased to foreign companies for 25 to 30 years, with the lease transfer expected to be completed by December. However, this move has also faced widespread criticism and questioning. According to reports, the main opposition opinions are as follows: first, the issue of the legality of the decision-making process. Critics say the decision is not transparent and lacks public consultation, and the interim government, which has not been elected and is about to step down, has no authority to make long-term decisions. Second, the issue of economic benefits. The interim government claims that the ports of Bangladesh are inefficient and their competitiveness has declined, but Chittagong Port's net income for the fiscal year 2024-25 reached 242.75 million euros (€242.75 million, approximately 284 million USD). Third, the issue of geopolitical risks. Chittagong is an important transit hub in northeastern India and a key node in the Maritime Silk Road. It has been reported that the interim government intends to lease the NCT to the UAE state-owned enterprise DP World, which has close ties with the U.S. military, possibly turning the Bay of Bengal into a "battlefield" among major powers. In addition, the NCT is a dual-use port, currently operated by the Bangladesh Navy. The interim government has not publicly consulted before leasing the port, which could trigger national security risks.
Original: www.toutiao.com/article/1847781947698188/
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