Container deliveries halted at Chittagong Port after assault on transport worker

Drivers and transport workers operating trucks, prime movers, and trailers have halted container deliveries from Chittagong Port after a haulage worker was assaulted.

The incident took place around 4pm on Monday at port’s gate No. 5, with container movement coming to a standstill half an hour later.

Chittagong Port Secretary Syed Refayet Hamim told bdnews24.com, “Container-carrying vehicles are not operating due to a problem. We are trying to resolve the issue."

The confrontation later flared into a scuffle, leaving port security guard Ashiqur Rahman injured.

Workers alleged that a dispute over gate passes between the Trailer Workers’ Association treasurer and a port security guard quickly escalated into a brawl.

Selim Khan, president of the Prime Mover Trailer Workers’ Union, alleged that port security personnel assaulted a member of their organisation after he protested an inflated gate-pass charge.

Following the incident, transport workers suspended all freight haulage operations.

Upon receiving news of the suspension, port authorities initiated efforts to resolve the situation, according to the port secretary.

At least 5,000 containers are delivered a day through the country’s main seaport.