Chittagong Port cargo movement halts over alleged assault on union leaders by security staff

Transport workers brought cargo and container movement through the gates of Chittagong Port to a halt this afternoon, protesting the alleged assault of two union leaders by the port's security staff.

Cargo and container delivery from the port has remained suspended since 4:00pm.

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The two leaders -- Hasan Mahmud, joint secretary, and Moktar Hossain, treasurer, of the Chattogram District Prime Mover Trailer, Concrete Mixer, Flatbed, Dump Truck Workers Union -- were allegedly physically assaulted during altercations with security staff over the collection of additional money while receiving the port's entry fees.

Shamsuzzaman Suman, welfare secretary of the Inter District Goods Transport Owners Association, alleged that for the last few weeks, members of the security department had been collecting Tk 80 to Tk 90 as port entry fee for each truck, covered van, and prime mover trailer, against the actual fee of Tk 57.50. This, he said, created resentment among transport workers, resulting in frequent altercations.

Hasan told The Daily Star that the unrest began around 3:00pm today, when security guards beat Moktar Hossain as he tried to record video of the collection of extra money at the port’s Gate No 5.

Workers immediately stopped plying vehicles through that gate in protest, said Hasan. The security officials then called a meeting at the Chittagong Port Authority (CPA) Security department.

He added that when he and others went to attend it, around 200 security staff confined them inside and assaulted him.

Protesting the incidents, prime mover workers, and other transport workers halted cargo and container transport through several other gates from 4:30pm, he said.

Off dock operators also confirmed that the transport of containers between the port and 21 private off docks remained suspended until 8:00pm.

CPA Secretary Syed Refayet Hamim said he had heard that cargo transport through two gates remained suspended.

He, however, said the authority had initiated efforts to resolve the issue, as senior CPA officials met the leaders of different transport owners' and workers' associations in the evening to address it.