Operational activities at Chattogram port came to a halt once again as workers and employees resumed an eight-hour work abstention for the third consecutive day today.

The strike, enforced from 8:00am, was called by the Chattogram Bandar Rokkha Sangram Parishad and the Chattogram port unit of Jatiyatabadi Sramik Dal, demanding cancellation of the government move to lease the New Mooring Container Terminal (NCT) to UAE-based firm DP World.

Port users said loading and unloading of containers and cargo from vessels at several jetties almost completely stopped from around 8:00am.

Cargo delivery from port yards also remained suspended, while container transport between Chattogram port and 19 privately owned inland container depots was halted due to the strike.

The Chattogram Port Authority (CPA) termed the strike "unjustified", saying no agreement has yet been signed regarding the lease of NCT.

In the meantime, the CPA last evening issued transfer orders for 12 employees in two phases. With these, the number of transferred employees rose to 16.

Protesters claimed the transferred officials were actively involved in the movement.

A leader of Sramik Dal alleged that the CPA has prepared a list of around 200 employees engaged in the protest and started transferring them gradually to weaken the movement.

The protesters described the transfers as an attempt to control the movement through pressure.

CPA Director (Administration) Md Omar Faruk, however, said the transfers were routine administrative decisions made for official requirements and were not linked to the ongoing protest.