Dhaka, Jan 29 (V7N) — The High Court has ruled that the interim government’s agreement with a foreign company to operate the New Mooring Container Terminal at Chittagong Port is valid.

The verdict was delivered on Thursday (January 29) by a single bench of Justice Zafar Ahmed, dismissing the legal challenge over the agreement process.

Earlier, on December 4 last year, a double bench of Justice Fatema Najeeb and Justice Fatema Anwar had issued a different ruling regarding the New Mooring Terminal. Following that decision, the Chief Justice referred the case to Justice Zafar Ahmed’s bench for final disposal.

The case stems from a memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed on February 17, 2019, between the government and DP World of the United Arab Emirates under a public-private partnership (PPP) arrangement to operate the New Mooring Container Terminal at Chittagong Port.

Last year, Mirza Walid Hossain, president of the Bangladesh Young Economists Forum, filed a writ petition on behalf of the organization, challenging the legality and procedure of the agreement.

With Thursday’s ruling, the court has validated the agreement process, clearing legal uncertainty surrounding the terminal’s operation.

END/SMA/AJ