Operations at Chattogram Port Authority have yet to fully stabilise despite the temporary suspension of a strike over the lease agreement process involving international operator DP World for the New Mooring Container Terminal (NCT).
The port has been facing disruptions since January 31, when the Bondar Rokkha Shongram Porishad launched a protest opposing the proposed agreement to hand over operations of the NCT to DP World. Although the strike was suspended from 9 February to 15 February in view of the national elections, four consecutive days of election holidays prevented the port from regaining normal momentum.
Limited operations during holidays
Following the suspension, the port operated fully for two days – 9 and 10 February. However, from 11 February onward, election-related holidays significantly slowed activities. While operations technically continued under special arrangements, delivery of containers nearly came to a halt due to the suspension of goods transportation across the country.
Port officials said that although loading and unloading at jetties and vessel movements continued, the slowdown in inland transport created a bottleneck in container delivery. They expressed hope that full-scale operations would resume from Sunday, 15 February.
Senior officials of several terminal and berth operators confirmed that cargo handling activities at the port and outer anchorage remained largely functional during the election period. Unloading of goods from mother vessels to lighter ships at the outer anchorage was reported to be normal.
Container backlog and vessel congestion
Statistics reveal the scale of disruption. During regular operations, more than 4,000 containers are typically delivered daily. On 13 February, some 72 TEUs were delivered, while 1,308 TEUs were delivered on 14 February – still far below the usual volume.
As of 14 February, the port yard held 41,551 TEUs of containers. A total of 122 vessels were present at the port during this period. Sixteen ships were berthed at the main jetty, while 15 container vessels were waiting at the outer anchorage – far above the normal waiting figure of one or two ships. Port authorities attributed the congestion to the prolonged strike.
Fresh programme on 16 February
Despite suspending the strike during the election period, the Bondar Rokkha Shongram Parishad has announced that it will unveil a new programme at a press conference on 16 February.
Humayun Kabir, coordinator of the Bondar Rokkha Shongram Parishad, told TIMES of Bangladesh that while the strike was temporarily withdrawn in consideration of the national elections, their demands remain unchanged.
“As per our previous announcement, we will declare our next programme on 16 February,” he said. “We do not wish to disclose details beforehand. Our demands still stand – removal of Chittagong Port Authority Chairman Rear Admiral SM Moniruzzaman, withdrawal of disciplinary actions against 15 officials and employees involved in the movement, and cancellation of the NCT agreement with DP World.”
Kabir added that most leaders of the movement are affiliated with labour organisations allied with BNP. “Since BNP is set to form the next government, we believe the NCT issue will now fall under the jurisdiction of the incoming administration. We hope the new government will offer a rational solution to this critical issue concerning the port.”
Ibrahim Khokon, another coordinator of the movement, said that even if the interim government steps back from the NCT agreement, several other demands remain unresolved.
“The chairman of Chattogram Port must be removed swiftly. We want immediate resolution of punitive measures taken against us, including arrests, cancellation of housing allocations, and suspensions. Otherwise, we will announce a stricter programme on 16 February,” he warned.
He added that the Porishad would meet within the next couple of days to assess the port’s current situation before finalising its next course of action.
Business community urges restraint
Meanwhile, business leaders have expressed deep concern over the economic fallout of the port-centric agitation that has continued since 31 January. They emphasised that further disruptions would have serious consequences for the national economy.
Former president of the Chittagong Chamber of Commerce and Industries, Amir Humayun Chowdhury, said no shutdown programme should be enforced while port operations are already affected.
“With the formation of a new government underway, there is no logic in calling another strike on 16 February. A solution should be reached through dialogue,” he said.
Seacom Group Chairman Mohammad Amirul Haque echoed similar concerns. “It would be inappropriate to launch another shutdown before the new government and cabinet are formed. Everyone should wait for the new administration to take office and find a logical solution. We believe the new government will act in the best interest of the country’s economy and the port.”
Former director of the Chittagong Chamber, Mahfuzul Haque Shah, also called for restraint from both sides.
“The port authority should avoid punitive measures that may further inflame tensions. The dispute over the NCT agreement requires a rational and negotiated settlement. We expect the incoming government to prioritize this issue after assuming office,” he said.
The agitation began with a three-day strike of eight hours per day from 31 January. It later escalated into a continuous strike. After a meeting with the shipping adviser, the programme was briefly suspended for two days, only to be resumed again amid allegations that authorities were taking steps to restrict movement leaders from leaving the country and investigating their assets.
Eventually, the continuous programme was withdrawn for seven days – from 9 to 15 February – due to the national elections.
Despite repeated attempts, Md Omar Faruk, director (administration) and spokesperson of the Chattogram Port Authority, did not respond for comment.
