Interim Govt Lacks Authority to Decide on Port and LDC Issues: Tarique Rahman
BNP acting chairman Tarique Rahman has said that an unelected interim government does not have the legitimacy to make major national decisions, including those concerning ports or Bangladesh’s graduation from the LDC category.
“A government that has not been elected by the people cannot determine the long-term future of a country,” he said.
His remarks came on Monday in a Facebook post amid ongoing discussions and criticism over the interim government’s decision to hand over construction and operation of the Laldia Container Terminal in Chattogram port and management of the Pangaon Inland Container Terminal in Dhaka to foreign companies. Along with these agreements, the interim government has also confirmed that Bangladesh will graduate from the list of least developed countries (LDCs) in 2026.
Tarique Rahman argued that these decisions carry far-reaching consequences for the people of Bangladesh, yet the interim government is making such strategic choices despite lacking a democratic mandate.
He addressed the issues in detail in a long English post on his verified Facebook page. A translated summary of his message is as follows:
He asked readers to imagine a small garment factory owner in Gazipur who has spent years building his business. When tariff advantages disappear without warning, his orders slow, costs rise, and his workers face uncertainty. Similarly, a young graduate in Narayanganj watches her family slip into financial distress as her father loses overtime, then shifts, and eventually faces job loss. These crises unfold silently inside ordinary homes — and none of those affected had any say in the decisions that triggered them.
This, he said, is why the debate over LDC graduation is more important than official statements suggest. According to the BNP, moving ahead with the 2026 deadline without keeping the option of deferral open is a political move by a non-elected government making decisions that will shape Bangladesh’s economic future for decades.
He rejected claims that seeking a deferral would be impossible or humiliating, noting that countries like Angola and Samoa have had timelines adjusted, and UN rules allow flexibility during economic shocks. Requesting more time, he said, is responsible governance — especially for an interim administration.
By removing the deferral option publicly, he argued, Bangladesh weakens its own negotiating position at the international level, harming its leverage. Existing government documents themselves acknowledge growing pressures in the banking sector, foreign exchange shortages, rising debt risks, and declining exports.
He emphasized that this is not an argument against LDC graduation: “Bangladesh has earned the right to move forward. But having the ‘right’ to graduate is not the same as being ‘ready’ to graduate.”
He then turned to Chattogram port — the gateway to Bangladesh’s economy — noting that decisions about such a vital national asset cannot be treated as routine administrative matters. These long-term commitments are being made by a government without electoral legitimacy, binding future generations without public consent.
According to him, the handling of port decisions mirrors the approach to LDC graduation: strategic options being closed prematurely, public debate dismissed, and legitimate concerns ignored under the guise of speed and inevitability.
He clarified that the issue is not personal. “This is about safeguarding institutions and ensuring that decisions shaping decades of national life are made by governments accountable to the people.”
He stressed that no one is opposing port reforms or LDC graduation itself. Rather, the fundamental point is that such major decisions should not be finalized by a government not chosen by the citizens.
“Strategic patience is not weakness. Public consultation is not obstruction. Democratic legitimacy is not delay,” he wrote.
He concluded by saying that the people of Bangladesh have always fought for dignity, voice, and choice. Their demand is simple: to be heard and respected.
Looking ahead to the national elections scheduled for February 2026, he said this will be an opportunity for the people to express their will and reaffirm a basic truth:
The future of Bangladesh must be shaped by those who live in it — guided by the vision, ‘Bangladesh First.’
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