Workers and employees are protesting the decision to give the responsibility of operating the New Mooring Container Terminal of Chattogram Port to a foreign company.
The strike, called by the Chattogram Port Nationalist Workers' Party, is disrupting normal operations at the port.
The strike, called from 8 am on Saturday, has seen permanent employees and private sector workers taking a break from work.
It was learned from talking to port officials that normal operations are being disrupted at various cargo berths, CCT and NCT due to the strike by the workers' party. However, they say that the operational activities of the ships are normal.
Ibrahim Khokon, general secretary of the Chattogram Port Nationalist Workers' Party, said, "The workers and employees of the port have not been doing any work since morning. No equipment in the port has been running since morning."
He said that the program will continue till 4 pm, “We will observe a strike at the same time on Sunday as well to protest the decision to hand over the NCT to a foreign company.”
Chattogram Port Director (Administration) Md. Omar Faruk told bdnews24.com that some people have been protesting at various gates of the port since morning. However, normal ship operations are taking place inside the port, and there is no problem in the channel.
He said, “As it is Saturday, administrative activities are closed and goods delivery from the port has started a little late. The situation will be understood after the afternoon.”
The Port Nationalist Workers’ Party announced the two-day program last Thursday to protest the decision to lease the New Mooring Container Terminal to DP World of the United Arab Emirates. The Workers’ Workers’ Union Council (SCOP) also supported the strike.
They also held a protest march and rally inside the port building last Thursday.
As a result, the Chattogram Port Authority issued an office order warning of action against the workers who took part in the protest.
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