Port handover to DP World triggers clashes in Dhaka

Tensions escalated in Dhaka as law enforcement moved to disperse crowds demonstrating against the handover of terminal operations at a major port facility to DP World, the global maritime logistics operator based in the United Arab Emirates. The baton charges marked an intensification of public resistance to the agreement, which has drawn scrutiny from multiple quarters in recent days.

Protesters assembled in the capital to voice objections to the port concession, citing concerns about the implications of placing strategic national infrastructure under foreign management. The demonstration underscored broader apprehension regarding the terms and potential consequences of the commercial arrangement for local stakeholders and the national economy.

Police presence at the site swelled as crowds grew, with security forces ultimately resorting to physical measures to control the gathering. The incident reflects mounting friction between government plans for port modernization and public sentiment regarding the privatization of key infrastructure assets.

The DP World arrangement represents a significant shift in port management policy, with the company expected to assume operational control of terminal facilities. Officials have promoted the partnership as essential for modernizing port infrastructure and increasing efficiency, though critics contend the terms disadvantage domestic interests.