The petition requesting a status quo order for the awarding of a contract for the New Mooring Container Terminal (NCT) in Chattogram to DP World has been forwarded by the Supreme Court chamber judge to its full bench. The matter is scheduled for a hearing on February 9. Justice Farah Mahbub, the chamber judge of the Appellate Division of the SC, made the decision following a brief hearing on the issue.
The petition was filed by Bangladesh Jubo Arthanitibid Forum on February 1, urging a status quo order concerning the contract award process for NCT to DP World until a leave to appeal petition against the High Court verdict is filed. Barrister Anwar Hossen, representing the forum, emphasized that the contract award to DP World is currently under review by the apex court, and therefore, the government should not proceed with the deal.
Contrarily, Additional Attorney General Aneek R Haque argued that there is no legal obstacle preventing the government from proceeding with the process since no status quo order has been issued by the chamber judge.
During the proceedings, lawyers Ahsanul Karim, Syed Mamun Mahbub, and Anwar Hossen represented the petitioner, while acting attorney general Md Arshadur Rouf and Additional Attorney General Aneek R Haque represented the state.
Barrister Anwar Hossain expressed concerns about the timing of the contract execution, stating that the impending national parliamentary election and the government’s pursuit of the contract shortly before the election appear as an arbitrary exercise of power. He warned that failing to maintain a status quo until the filing of the leave to appeal petition could cause irreparable harm to the petitioners and prejudice the rights of the public.
Notably, on January 29, Justice Md Rezaul Haque, another chamber judge of the Appellate Division, took no action on a similar petition filed by Bangladesh Jubo Arthanitibid Forum against the High Court verdict, which also sought a status quo order regarding the contract award process for NCT. The High Court had earlier rejected a writ petition by the forum challenging the legality of awarding the contract to DP World for container handling at NCT.