The High Court commenced hearings today regarding a legal challenge questioning the government’s decision to start the contracting process with UAE-based company DP World for managing container operations at New Mooring Container Terminal (NCT) in Chattogram. Justices Fatema Najib and Fatema Anwar presided over the HC bench, scheduling a continuation of the hearing for the following day.
During today’s proceedings, Senior lawyers Barrister AM Mahbub Uddin and Advocate Ahsanul Karim, with the assistance of Barrister Md Anwar Hossen, represented the writ petitioner. They argued that the government’s initiation of the contracting process violated the Public Private Partnership Act of 2015 and the Government-to-Government Guideline, 2017. According to the laws, a board of governors, chaired by the prime minister, should make such policy decisions. However, as there is currently no parliament in place, the board of governors is non-existent, the lawyers contended.
On behalf of the state, Attorney General Md Asaduzzaman and Additional Attorney General Md Arshadur Rouf were in attendance. The legal challenge originated from a writ petition filed by Bangladesh Jubo Arthanitibid Forum, a charitable organization, which prompted another HC bench on July 30 this year to issue a rule demanding explanations from relevant government authorities regarding the legality of awarding a contract to DP World without conducting an open tender process.