Press Release: Amar Bangladesh Party (AB Party) has called for prioritizing Bangladesh’s sovereignty, national interest, and independence in all development initiatives. Speaking at a press conference on Thursday, AB Party General Secretary, Asaduzzaman Fuaad, a barrister-at-law, stated that Bangladesh must not be allowed to become a proxy battlefield for global or regional superpowers. He stressed the urgent need for both national and international consensus to ensure the safe, sustainable, and dignified repatriation of over 1.5 million Rohingya refugees currently residing in Bangladesh.
The press conference, titled “On Chittagong Port and the Humanitarian Corridor,” was held at the party’s central office in Bijoynagar, Dhaka.
Addressing concerns over port management and the so called humanitarian corridor, Barrister Fuaad stated that assuming any foreign management is inherently detrimental to national interest is a narrow, outdated and conspiratorial mindset. He asserted that with the right contracts, accountability mechanisms, and oversight, such initiatives can enhance development. The AB Party envisions Chittagong Port as a future international logistics hub for the South Asian region built on efficiency, transparency, technology and environmental responsibility. Drawing examples from the hotel, telecom and garment industries, he noted that many five-star hotels in Bangladesh are managed by international chains like Radisson, InterContinental, and Marriott without compromising national security. Similarly, proper management at Chittagong Port can elevate Bangladesh’s tourism and economic potential.
The AB Party called on the Bangladesh Investment Development Authority to clarify the following four points to the nation to avoid any potential confusion arising in public mind:
1. Publish the past performance, operational competence, competitiveness and contractual terms of any foreign company under consideration, DP World in this particular context, based on mutual transparency;
2. Ensure that no compromise is made on Bangladesh’s sovereignty or national security or interest under any circumstances;
3. Secure the interests of local workers and economic benefit to the country explicitly within the contract;
4. Maintain full transparency, accountability, and national acceptance throughout the entire process, to the extent possible.
The party welcomed efforts to modernize the Chittagong Port, the largest in the country, and believes that, if implemented with foresight, patriotism, and transparency, it could transform Bangladesh’s economy over the next five years. AB Party emphasized the need for public interest–oriented, open-deal frameworks—rejecting any backdoor agreements.
Regarding the so-called “Humanitarian Corridor,” Barrister Fuaad stated that the Rohingya refugee crisis, with over 1.3 million (in reality, 1.7–2 million) people living in subhuman conditions, demands a comprehensive solution that respects Bangladesh’s security and diplomatic balance. He appreciated the recent statement by National Security Adviser Dr. Khalilur Rahman for clarifying the interim government’s position on this sensitive matter.
He noted that current conditions in Myanmar’s Rakhine State remain unsafe for Rohingya repatriation, as confirmed by the UN and international human rights bodies. In this context, the proposed “humanitarian passage” could unintentionally involve Bangladesh in a regional geopolitical conflict—something that is entirely unacceptable.
Barrister Fuaad stressed that the Rohingya crisis should not be politicized but addressed as a matter of national security requiring cross-party consensus. The only acceptable solution is the voluntary, secure, and dignified return of Rohingyas to their homeland. Bangladesh’s diplomatic focus must remain steadfastly on this goal.
He reiterated that Bangladesh’s territory, sovereignty, and national security cannot be compromised by any foreign pressure or geopolitical maneuver. “We seek a humanitarian yet courageous and pragmatic solution—led by Bangladesh, in the interest of Bangladesh and its people,” Fuaad asserted.
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