Workers and staff at Chattogram port began an eight-hour work abstention this morning, demanding the cancellation of the government’s move to lease the port’s largest functional facility, the New Mooring Container Terminal (NCT), to foreign firm DP World.
Chattogram Bandar Jatiyatabadi Sramik Dal and leaders of the former Port CBA enforced the eight-hour work stoppage -- from 8:00am to 4:00pm -- disrupted operational activities at several jetties, affecting the loading and unloading of containers and cargo from vessels.
The organisers announced that administrative and operational activities would also remain suspended for eight hours tomorrow (Sunday).
Sources at the port said operators of different cargo and container-handling equipment stopped work, disrupting the loading, unloading and transportation of cargo and containers.
Loading and unloading operations from three vessels anchored at three jetties of the oldest General Cargo Berth (GCB) terminal came to a complete halt, SAID Fazley Ekram Chowdhury, president of the Berth Operators, Ship-Handling Operators, and Terminal Operators Owners Association.
He said jetty workers employed by the operators refrained from work, making it impossible to continue loading and unloading operations. Port-employed equipment operators were also not working at the GCB, he added.
The number of cargo and container carrying vehicles entering the port was noticeably lower in the morning compared to regular days.
Meanwhile, security has been tightened around the port’s administrative building premises.
The Chittagong Port Authority (CPA) issued a notice yesterday evening warning that strict legal action would be taken against any individual or group involved in disrupting the normal operations of the country’s principal seaport.
In the notice, the CPA said some vested groups, parties and individuals were creating disorder by unlawfully holding meetings, rallies, processions, work stoppages and other programmes in protest against the government’s decision on the New Mooring Container Terminal and the verdict delivered by the High Court.
