Port activity paralysed over NCT leaseCtg Port workers call another 24-hour strike

The continuous suspension of work called by workers and employees in protest against the decision to lease the New Mooring Container Terminal (NCT) to Dubai-based company DP World entered its third day on Monday, bringing operations at the country’s principal seaport to a virtual standstill.

As no breakthrough has been reached so far, the protesting organisations have announced another 24-hour strike starting from 8:00am on Tuesday.

The Chittagong Port Protection Struggle Committee announced the industrial action on Tuesday morning, with the strike scheduled from 8am, marking the third consecutive day of work stoppage.

Fazle Akram Chowdhury, president of the Berth Operators, Ship Handling Operators and Terminal Operators Association, said, “For the third consecutive day, we have not been able to book any workers. No operations are taking place at the general cargo berths.”

Ibrahim Khokon, coordinator of the Jatiyatabadi Sramik Dal, said, “No one is joining work as the legitimate demands of the workers have not been met. Workers and employees across the port have spontaneously stopped work.”

He added, “As our demands have not been accepted so far and in protest against the unreasonable transfer of employees involved in the movement, a 24-hour strike will be observed from 8:00am tomorrow.”

On Monday, port workers observed an eight-hour strike from 8am to 4pm.

Earlier, the port’s nationalist labour group had called similar eight-hour strikes on Saturday and Sunday to oppose the handover of NCT operations to UAE-based operator DP World.

Saturday’s strike had disrupted port operations significantly.

During Sunday’s strike, cargo and container handling at different jetties effectively came to a halt.

Entry of covered vans, lorries, and trailers for cargo delivery was blocked, resulting in operational stagnation at the port.

At a rally in front of the port building on Tuesday afternoon, Council Coordinator and General Secretary of the Port Nationalist Labour Group Md Ibrahim Khokon announced the fresh 24-hour strike plan.