Container transportation from Chattogram Port resumed after being suspended for nearly six hours following an altercation involving a cargo trailer worker and a port security employee.
The two sides are scheduled to hold another meeting on Wednesday afternoon to discuss the issue.
The incident occurred around 4pm on Monday, Sept 28, at Gate No. 5 of Chattogram Port. Container deliveries were suspended about 30 minutes later.
A port security employee named Ashikur Rahman was also injured in the incident.
Workers said an argument and subsequent physical altercation initially broke out between the treailer workers association’s treasurer and a security employee at the port gate over the issuance of entry passes. The incident led transport workers to halt cargo movement.
Selim Khan, president of the Prime Movers Trailer Workers Union, alleged that workers were being charged Tk80 to Tk100 instead of the Tk57 gate-pass fee.
He said the association’s treasurer, Moktar Hossain, protested after being charged extra, following which port security personnel allegedly assaulted him.
Selim said they informed the port authorities, who came to the site and proposed resolving the matter. However, when both sides went to Gate No. 4, another dispute broke out, prompting transport workers to stop cargo transportation.
At least 5,000 TEUs of containerised cargo are delivered through Chattogram Port every day. After being unloaded from ships, the containers are transported to their destinations by trailers.
The port authorities have been working to resolve the situation, according to the port secretary.
