The Chittagong Port Authority (CPA) has transferred four employees accused of leading the ongoing work abstention against the government’s move to lease the New Mooring Container Terminal (NCT) to a foreign operator.
They have been reassigned to the Pangaon Inland Container Terminal in Keraniganj, Dhaka and asked to join the new workplace by tomorrow, said an official order signed by the CPA’s chief personnel officer this afternoon directed the four employees to join their new workplace by tomorrow (Sunday).
The four employees are Humayun Kabir, an audit assistant of the Department of Internal Audit and Inspection, Md Ibrahim Khokan, an engine driver of Marine Department, Md Anwarul Azim, senior assistant accounts officer, and Md Faridur Rahman, a 4th class employee of the engineering department.
A high official of CPA, seeking anonymity, confirmed the order to The Daily Star tonight.
CPA on January 29 in an official notice instructed departmental heads to take disciplinary action against employees who allegedly participated in protest programmes during office hours on that day against a High Court verdict and government decision of leasing NCT, terming the activities as misconduct and disobedience.
Different workers’ organisation including Chattogram Bandar Jatiyatabadi Sramik Dal enforced an 8-hour work abstention for two days since this morning.
Loading and unloading of cargo and containers at almost all jetties of the port remained suspended for eight hours since 8:00am today due to the work abstention.
Humayun Kabir is a coordinator of Chattogram Bandar Rokkha Parishad and former Publicity Secretary of Port CBA and Ibrahim Khokan is the general secretary of Chattogram Bandar Jatiyatabadi Sramik Dal. Both of them are playing leading role in the current protest movement.
Contacted, Humayun Kabir said they would not join the new office tomorrow and rather they would announce programme against the CPA action.
He alleged that the authority is trying to stop the movement through oppressive measures.
CPA also formed a 6-member committee led by CPA member (engineer) today to find out the financial losses incurred due to the 8-hour strike today and to identify the persons involved in the movement.
As the High Court, on January 29, in a verdict rejected a writ petition that challenged the legality of the government’s move to award a contract to DP World for container handling at the NCT, the government is preparing to finalise the signing of a concession agreement with the UAE firm before the national election, according to sources at CPA and the shipping ministry.
