The Chattogram Bandar Rokkha Committee will hold a day-long sit-in in front of Port Building on 5 October to protest the proposed leasing of New Mooring Container Terminal (NCT).
The committee is demanding that national interests and workers’ rights be protected in the management, operation, and future development of Chattogram Port.
The announcement was made during a consultation meeting with leaders of national federations, basic unions, and various labour organisations at Sultan Ahmed Hall of the Chattogram Press Club on Sunday at 11am.
The meeting was chaired by Engineer Delwar Majumder, convener of the Chattogram Bandar Rokkha Committee, and moderated by its member secretary, Fazlul Kabir Mintu.
Speakers highlighted that Chattogram Port serves as the country’s principal gateway for import and export trade, with the national economy and the livelihoods of a large number of workers directly tied to its operations.
They stressed that workers’ rights and interests must receive due priority alongside national interests in all decisions regarding port management and development.
The labour leaders called on the government to clearly explain the potential implications of leasing out the NCT.
They demanded that the government make public the expected financial and economic benefits, as well as any potential risks or losses, so the proposed arrangement can be transparently assessed.
The speakers demanded a national-level dialogue involving the government and relevant stakeholders to discuss the proposed NCT lease and examine its potential consequences.
The meeting urged broad participation from workers across all sections, as well as leaders and activists of national federations, basic unions, and labour organisations, on 5 October sit-in.
Leaders noted that they intend to draw the government’s attention through peaceful programmes but warned that a peaceful movement should not be interpreted as weakness.
