Vowing to resist the privatisation bid, he said handing over the terminal's operations to private sector will be 'a threat to national security, and sovereignty'. The mayor also said if privatised, the terminal may be used for 'smuggling'.

The Chittagong mayor was speaking at an exchange-of-views meeting with editors and senior journalists at the National Press Club in Dhaka.

The government Sunday formed a high-powered committee to work out strategy for calling international tender for the management of the terminal by private operators.

The 12-member committee headed by Lutful Khabir, member (Operation) of Chittagong Port Authority (CPA), was asked to prepare necessary documents and submit a report within 15 days.

The country's leading chambers and trade bodies Sunday also urged the government to take immediate steps to privatise the operation and management of the terminal.

The Chittagong mayor also demanded punishment to those who are involved in the move to hand over the terminal to private sector 'violating the constitution and the rules and regulations of the port'.

He also said the privatisation will destroy the country's premier seaport as well as the economy.

The mayor said under the existing rules, only the CPA can operate the port activities.

Replying to a question, the mayor said the government should not make any changes in the port law to hand over the terminal to private sector.

Acting Editor of the Ittefaq Rahat Khan said the government decision on the terminal is not wise. He said people should take stand against the privatisation move.

National Press Club President Reazuddin Ahmed said the mayor took the stand for the welfare of the port.

The government should take steps to increase the efficiency of the port, he said. The terminal should not be privatised on security grounds, he added.

Acting Editor of the Bhorer Kagoj Shaymal Datta said the government should not privatise the operations of port.

The Bangladesh Observer Editor Iqbal Sobhan Chowdhury urged the government to stop corruption in port, not to privatise it.

Editor of the Sangbad Bazlur Rahman said privatisation of the terminal will serve the interest of a minor group.

Executive Editor of the Sangbad Monjurul Ahsan Bulbul said a vested quarter wants to destroy the national security by privatising the port terminal.

Editor of the Inqilab ASM Bahauddin said, "I am not against the privatisation, but I am against the privatisation of sensitive installations like seaport."

Our Chittagong correspondent adds: Chittagong district administration yesterday officially handed over 14.275 acres of land to the CPA, the implementing authority of the New Mooring Container Terminal project.

The CPA started implementing the Tk 737 crore project on February 14, 2004.

BCL stages demonstration

Another report adds: Chittagong city unit of Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL), the student wing of the main opposition Awami League, yesterday staged demonstrations against the move to privatise the management of the terminal.

BCL leaders during the demonstrations at Agrabad Badamtali Intersection, around 100 metres off the Chittagong Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCCI) building, criticised the businesses for supporting the privatisation bid.

The BCL leaders lauded the stance of ABM Mohiuddin Chowdhury, who is also the general secretary of Chittagong city Awami League, for opposing the privatisation of the terminal.