The Chattogram Bondor Rokkha Porishad has announced a two-day suspension of the ongoing strike at Chattogram port on Friday and Saturday.
The decision followed a meeting on Thursday at 2:30pm between labour leaders and Shipping Adviser Brigadier General (retd) M Sakhawat Hossain at the Chittagong Port Building.
According to Shongram Porishad Coordinator Humayun Kabir, port operations were expected to begin resuming from Thursday evening. However, the leaders indicated that a fresh programme would be announced this coming Saturday.
Briefing journalists after the discussion, the shipping adviser issued a stern warning, stating that the government would take a hard line if port activities did not fully resume by the morning of Friday. The meeting was convened to break a deadlock that has crippled the port since the strike commenced on January 31.
During the talks, labour leaders reiterated their steadfast opposition to any agreement that would allow DP World to operate the New Mooring Container Terminal (NCT).
In response, the shipping adviser clarified that the government is not rushing into any deal with the company, noting that discussions regarding DP World have been ongoing for the past six months. He further questioned the timing of the protest, occurring just ahead of Ramadan, and suggested there might be ulterior motives behind the industrial action.
Earlier on Thursday, the Shipping Adviser held separate meetings with port users and law enforcement agencies. He was also scheduled to meet with business representatives at the Boat Club later that afternoon.
