Court dismisses challenge to DP World container handling contract

The High Court today rejected a writ petition that challenged the legality of the government’s move to award a contract to UAE-based DP World for container handling at the New Mooring Container Terminal (NCT) in Chattogram.

The bench of Justice Zafar Ahmed delivered the judgement after hearing arguments from lawyers on the matter.

Details of the HC verdict will be known once its full text is released.

Writ petitioner’s lawyer Barrister Md Anwar Hossen told The Daily Star that they would move an appeal before the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court challenging the HC judgement.

Bangladesh Jubo Arthanitibid Forum, a philanthropic organisation, filed the petition as a public interest litigation with the HC last year.

Following the same writ petition, another HC bench had issued a rule asking the authorities to explain why awarding the NCT container handling contract to DP World without holding an open tender should not be declared illegal.

In December last year, the then Chief Justice Syed Refaat Ahmed assigned the case to the HC bench of Justice Zafar Ahmed for final disposal.

The chief justice’s office sent the matter to the bench of Justice Zafar Ahmed on December 17, after a two-judge bench delivered a dissenting verdict on December 4.

On that day, Justice Fatema Najib declared the government’s decision to begin the contract process with DP World illegal, while her junior bench colleague, Justice Fatema Anwar, rejected the writ petition. The bench subsequently referred the matter, along with the dissenting verdict, to the chief justice for a decision.

The HC bench of Justice Zafar Ahmed yesterday fixed today for delivering the verdict after concluding hearings on the matter.

Senior lawyer Ahsanul Karim, assisted by Barrister Anwar Hossen, appeared for the writ petitioner, while Barrister Nasir Uddin Ahmed Ashim placed arguments on behalf of berth operator Shahdat Hossain. Additional Attorney General Aneek R Haque represented the state during the hearings.