Indefinite strike halts cargo movement at Chittagong Port

Protesters say a “dead silence” has descended on the port’s jetties

Workers and employees at Chittagong Port are continuing their strike in protest against the government’s initiative to lease the New Mooring Container Terminal (NCT) to a foreign company.

No work was under way on Wednesday as workers stayed away from duties at various jetties for a fifth consecutive day, bringing all operational activities to a halt.

There was no movement of goods or containers at the port, including the normal cargo berth and container jetty. Ship movement from the outer anchorage was also suspended.

Protesters said a “dead silence” had descended on the port’s jetties.

The Port Jatiotabadi Sramik Dal began an eight-hour daily strike to oppose the government’s decision to hand over the NCT to UAE-based DP World.

The programme is now being carried out under the banner of the Port Protection Struggle Council.

After observing eight-hour strikes until Monday, the protesters called a 24-hour shutdown on Tuesday.

With their demands unmet, they began an indefinite strike from 8am on Wednesday.

In response, the port authority immediately transferred several protesting workers and officials to different places in an effort to quell the movement.

Ibrahim Khokon, coordinator of the Sangram Parishad, told bdnews24.com: “Our strike is going on in protest against the decision to give the NCT to a foreign company. All the workers and employees are responding to our call and making the ongoing programme a success.”

“No work is being done on any jetty of the port, no goods are being delivered, and no work is being done on ships. There is a dead silence inside the port. All types of operational activities at the port are closed.”

The private operators of the general cargo berth have not been able to deploy their workers on Wednesday, leaving operations suspended there as well.