Home
+
Published : 01 Feb 2026, 01:54 AM
After workers and employees paralysed operations at Chittagong Port in protest against the lease of the New Mooring Container Terminal (NCT) to foreign operators, Chattogram police have imposed a ban on processions and gatherings in the port until March.
Late on Saturday, around 11:30pm, the Chattogram Metropolitan Police (CMP) issued a public notice enforcing the prohibition.
Parliamentary election campaigns, however, remain exempt from the ban.
The CMP had previously imposed a similar ban from Oct 11 to Dec 11, 2024, after intensified protests over the NCT lease.
On Saturday, the workers’ strike called by the labour union alliance left port operations completely halted.
The CMP has now announced that all administrative activities at Chittagong Port will remain suspended from 8am to 4pm on Sunday.
Additionally, the Workers-Employees Unity Council (SCOP) had planned a black-flag march toward the Chittagong Port Building at 11am on Sunday.
In this context, CMP Commissioner Hasib Aziz issued the nighttime ban, citing threats to public order.
The notice read, “Processions, rallies, human chains, and street meetings at the port can cause traffic congestion and disrupt import-export operations, which may severely affect the national economy and pose a threat to national security.”
To ensure smooth port operations, public order, peace, and security, the order bans the carrying or use of arms, swords, spears, guns, knives, sticks, explosives, and stones, as well as any marches, gatherings, human chains, or street meetings in and around Barek Building Cross, Nimtala Cross, Jetty Gate 3, Customs Cross, and Saltgola Crossing from Feb 1 midnight to Mar 2, for one month.
The notice warned that violations would prompt strict legal action.
The CMP commissioner issued the ban under Section 30 of the Chittagong Metropolitan Police Ordinance, 1978, marking the third time such restrictions have been enforced.
