The Chattogram Port Protection Struggle Council observed a four-hour mass hunger strike on Monday with demanding the immediate cancellation of the New Mooring Container Terminal (NCT) lease agreement and job security for port workers.
The peaceful demonstration began at 11:30 AM in front of the Chattogram Port Authority's (CPA) One-Stop Service Building and continued until 4:00 PM.
The protest was led by Md. Humayun Kabir and Ibrahim Khokon, joint conveners of the Council and leaders of the Chattogram Port Nationalist Workers' Party. Demonstrators chanted slogans against leasing port operations to foreign entities and called for the withdrawal of Dubai-based port operator DP World.
According to Council leaders, workers had issued a two-day ultimatum to the government for discussions following a protest rally on October 8 but no dialogue was initiated. Consequently, the Council proceeded with the hunger strike.
The demonstration follows a 15-year concession agreement signed on October 8 between the CPA and UAE’s DP World to operate and manage the NCT facility. DP World Chairman H.E. Essa Al-Karim and CPA Chairman Rear Admiral SM Moniruzzaman signed the deal in Dhaka.
