Workers and employees of Bangladesh Jatiotabadi Sramik Dal’s Chattogram port unit continued their strike for the second consecutive day on Sunday, demanding the cancellation of the process to lease the New Mooring Container Terminal (NCT) to DP World.
Approximately 10,000 workers and employees have refrained from work as part of the programme. The eight-hour work abstention began around 8am. They will continue the strike until 4pm.
Due to the strike, port operations, including cargo handling and transportation, have remained suspended since morning, with no vehicles carrying goods able to leave the port premises.
The Chittagong Port Authority (CPA) initiated disciplinary measures in response to the strike enforced from Saturday. Labour leader Humayun Kabir, who led the movement, and four others were transferred to Pangaon Inland Container Terminal (ICT) in Dhaka’s Keraniganj by noon.
The CPA has also formed an investigation committee to assess the losses caused by the disruption.
Meanwhile, the Chattogram Metropolitan Police imposed a one-month ban on all forms of rallies and processions in the port’s sensitive areas, though election-related activities are reportedly outside the scope of the restriction.
According to CPA sources, the process of finalising an agreement with Dubai-based DP World for operating the NCT is underway. However, a senior CPA delegation held a meeting at the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) Authority office. Sources indicated that the agreement could be finalised on Sunday or within the next few days.
Speaking about the transfers, Humayun, former publicity and publication secretary of the Chattogram Port CBA, said, “The port administration has transferred four people, including me. We do not accept this transfer. Our programme will continue. I will announce the next course of action in the afternoon. If any agreement is signed with DP World, an indefinite strike will be called at the port.”
According to the protesting workers, “The government is proceeding with handing over key port facilities to DP World. We will not allow such strategic assets of Chattogram port to be handed over to foreign operators under any circumstances.”
Attempts to contact CPA Director (Administration) Md Omar Faruk and Chief Personnel Officer Nasir Uddin for comments were unsuccessful.
