Bangladesh Deep-Sea Port Contract Stalled by Court Ruling

A major contract for a United Arab Emirates company to operate a new Bangladeshi port is on hold. The country’s Supreme Court issued a split decision this week, creating legal uncertainty over the deal. The court’s Appellate Division could not reach a full agreement. This deadlock leaves in place a previous High Court order that suspended the 2023 agreement. That agreement granted UAE-based Dubai Ports (DP) World a 30-year lease to manage a container terminal at the new Matarbari deep-sea port. The High Court’s suspension followed legal challenges from lawyers and a former port authority official. They argued the contract terms unfairly favored the foreign company and could cause significant financial losses for Bangladesh. The Matarbari port is a strategically important, $3 billion infrastructure project. It is designed to handle larger ships and boost regional trade. The government has argued that DP World’s expertise is essential for the port's efficient operation. With the Supreme Court divided, the case may now be sent to a larger panel of judges for a final ruling. Until then, the start of DP World’s operations at the key port remains in legal limbo.