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Published : 05 Feb 2026, 06:36 PM
Protesting workers and employees at Chittagong Port have suspended the ongoing work stoppage for two days after a meeting with Shipping Advisor M Sakhawat Hussain.
The decision was announced on Thursday afternoon following a meeting at the port building, said Md Humayun Kabir, one of the coordinators of the Port Protection Struggle Council, the group leading the protests.
He said, “Considering the month of Ramadan and everything else, we are suspending our plans tomorrow, Friday, and the following day, Saturday.
“During this time, the advisor has assured us that he will inform us of decisions on all our issues.
“If no decision comes by Saturday, then we will resume demonstrations from Sunday.”
Another leader of the protests Ibrahim Khokon said, “...the demonstrations will remain suspended from after 5pm today (Thursday).”
Port workers and employees launched the strike on Saturday in protest against the decision to lease the New Mooring Container Terminal (NCT) to UAE-based company DP World.
Although workers observed an eight-hour strike for three days from Saturday, a non-stop work stoppage has been in place since Tuesday.
The strike paralysed operations at Chittagong Port.
Advisor Sakhawat visited the port on Thursday morning and faced protests outside Gate No. 4 before holding a meeting with council representatives.
Humayun said, “We had meetings with all types of business communities yesterday (Wednesday)… The demands that we placed before them were presented to the advisor today (Thursday).
“I do not know what information he has shared with you (journalists), but he did say one thing -- that he would think positively. He told us this while leaving.”
Ibrahim said, “The process of handing over the [NCT] to a foreign company named DP World was under way… The movement is still ongoing.”
He added, “Our proposal was that none of the administrative measures taken against employees involved in this movement should remain in force… He [Sakhawat] has assured us on this issue.”
