Chittagong Port Workers Call Indefinite Strike Over Terminal Lease

Operations at the Chittagong Port face a major disruption as workers announced an indefinite strike starting Sunday morning. The protest centers on a government plan to lease the New Mooring Container Terminal (NCT) to a foreign operator.

The "Bandar Rokkha Sangram Parishad" (Port Protection Struggle Council) organized the walkout, which is scheduled to begin at 8 a.m. The group is demanding the immediate cancellation of a proposed deal with DP World, a Dubai-based logistics firm, to take over the terminal's operations.

At a press conference at the Chattogram Press Club on Saturday, committee leader Humayun Kabir outlined the workers' demands. Beyond stopping the lease, the group is calling for the removal of the port’s chairman and the withdrawal of all disciplinary and legal actions against protesting staff.

The strike follows a brief two-day pause in earlier protests. Industry experts warn that an extended work stoppage could severely impact Bangladesh's import-export supply chain, particularly the vital garment sector.