The strike was called by port workers demanding the cancellation of the government’s decision to lease the New Mooring Container Terminal (NCT) to Dubai-based operator DP World.
Representational image/collected
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Representational image/collected
The work stoppage at Chattogram Port has entered sixth day today (5 February), as port operations remained completely suspended for the third consecutive day.
The strike was called by port workers demanding the cancellation of the government’s decision to lease the New Mooring Container Terminal (NCT) to Dubai-based operator DP World. As a result of the shutdown, more than 11,000 export-laden containers have remained stranded at the port.
In an effort to resolve the crisis, Shipping Adviser Brigadier General (retd) Sakhawat Hossain held an emergency meeting with key stakeholders and senior port officials at the Chattogram Port Authority building around 10am today.
Meanwhile, law enforcement forces have been deployed across the port area since morning.
The protest started on Saturday (31 january) with port with an eight-hour daily work stoppage from 8am to 4pm, before escalating over the government’s lack of response.
According to labour leaders the authorities moved ahead with preparations to sign the lease and attempted to suppress the movement by transferring leaders, prompting the Port Protection Struggle Council to announce a 24-hour shutdown from Tuesday morning, followed by an indefinite strike from yesterday.
Chattogram business leaders met labour representatives yesterday (4 February) afternoon, expressing moral support for the movement while urging alternative protests to limit economic losses, but labour leaders refused to withdraw the stoppage and reiterated their demand to cancel the DP World lease.
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