Indefinite strike by workers disrupts Chattogram port

 
An indefinite strike by workers and employees at Chattogram Port is underway in protest against the decision to lease the New Mooring Container Terminal (NCT) of Chittagong Port to UAE-based DP World. This has led to a standstill at the port's jetty, terminal, shed and yard. The strike is underway at Chattogram Port from 8 am on Wednesday (February 4) at the call of the Port Protection Movement Council.

Due to this strike, all types of work, including loading and unloading of containers and open goods from ships at various jetties, have been stopped. Even the delivery of imported goods from the port, container handling, bringing and taking ships to the jetty, bringing and taking containers from the off-dock, and the movement of goods vehicles within the port have been stopped.

Md. Humayun Kabir, coordinator of the Port Protection Council, said that this program will continue until the government backs out of the leasing process.

The Port Protection Sangram Parishad held a three-day, eight-hour strike from Saturday to Monday to protest the decision to lease the NCT to DP World. After the program on Monday, they called for a 24-hour strike from 8 am on Tuesday. On Tuesday, the coordinator of the Port Protection Sangram Parishad, Md. Ibrahim Khokon, again called for an indefinite strike from 8 am on Wednesday.

After the first day of the strike on Saturday, the port authority immediately transferred four protesting workers. They also formed a six-member committee to assess the revenue loss due to the one-day strike. On Sunday, 12 more workers involved in the strike were transferred. 

On Monday (February 2), 15 more protesting workers were transferred to Mongla and Payra ports. The transfers were announced in an office order of the Ministry of Shipping.

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