Ctg Port movement coordinator Ibrahim Khokon released on bail

A Chattogram court today (10 February) granted bail to Mohammad Ibrahim Khokon, a coordinator of the Chattogram Bandar Rokkha Sangram Parishad, a day after his arrest over recent unrest at Chattogram Port.

Chief Metropolitan Magistrate AGM Monirul Hasan Sarker approved the bail following a hearing this afternoon, Deputy Commissioner (Prosecution) of Chattogram Metropolitan Police Mohammad Hasan Iqbal Chowdhury told The Business Standard.

Rapid Action Battalion members arrested Khokon from the Port Colony area yesterday evening. Police formally showed him arrested later that night in a case linked to the port-area disturbances.

The arrest came just 24 hours after port workers withdrew an indefinite strike that had disrupted operations for nearly a week.

As workers returned to duty and operations began to normalise on Monday morning (9 February), labour leaders warned that Khokon’s detention could reignite tensions. His release on bail has temporarily eased the situation.

Under the banner of the Bandar Rokkha Sangram Parishad, port workers observed an eight-hour work stoppage from 31 January to 2 February, demanding the cancellation of the government’s decision to lease the New Mooring Container Terminal to UAE-based DP World.

After authorities transferred several parishad leaders, workers launched an indefinite strike on 3 February, which they suspended on 5 February following talks with Shipping Adviser Brig Gen (retd) M Shakhawat Hossain.

Workers briefly resumed the strike on Sunday before calling it off again in the early hours of Monday.