A group of concerned citizens called Deshpremik Nagarik Samaj has urged for an inquiry into suspected corruption and kickbacks in the bidding process for granting concession contracts for the New Mooring, Laldia, and Pangaon terminals at Chattogram Port to foreign companies. The demand was voiced by spokesperson Md Al Amin Hossain and co-spokesperson Mohammad Ibrahim Khalil Chowdhury during a press briefing held outside the Anti-Corruption Commission headquarters in Dhaka.
The organization implicated former BIDA chairman Ashik Chowdhury, former international affairs envoy to the chief adviser Lutfey Siddiqui, Chattogram Port chairman Rear Admiral SM Moniruzzaman, and former naval adviser Sakhawat Hossain in the alleged misconduct.
According to the group, there are ongoing efforts to grant the New Mooring Container Terminal (NCT) lease to a company based in the UAE through a concession agreement. Despite facing opposition and halting a previous attempt, the speakers claimed that negotiations with the same company have recommenced.
The citizens’ platform raised concerns over the rapid conclusion of the deals, which were shrouded in secrecy under non-disclosure terms. They have called for a thorough investigation into the leasing process of the NCT and the concession agreements for the Laldia and Pangaon terminals to ascertain any possible involvement of bribery or illegal financial transactions.
Furthermore, the group has urged authorities to scrutinize the financial accounts, both domestic and international, of the implicated individuals and implement measures to prevent tampering with evidence or potential escape attempts during the investigation.