NCT lease: Protesters call for indefinite work abstention at Ctg port
The protesting workers and employees at Chattogram port announced to enforce work abstention for an indefinite period until the government cancels its move of leasing New Mooring Container Terminal (NCT) to the foreign operator, DP World.
Chattogram Bandar Rokkha Sangram Parishad Coordinator Md Humayun Kabir made the announcement at a press briefing held near the port’s administrative building this afternoon.
For all latest news, follow The Daily Star's Google News channel. After observing an eight-hour work stoppage for three consecutive days since last Saturday, the port workers began a 24-hour strike from 8:00am today.
The strike has led to a prolonged deadlock.
At the briefing, Humayun Kabir said they were thinking of easing the programme on the eve of the holy Shab-e-Barat. “But today, in Dhaka, senior officials including the Chief Adviser’s Special Envoy for International Affairs Lutfey Siddiqi, BIDA Chairman Ashik Chowdhury, and National Security Adviser Khalilur Rahman, were present at the BIDA office to pressure the negotiation committee. So far, discussions have been focused on the per-container rate. Now talks are moving towards revenue sharing. If that happens, the port will turn into a loss-making entity within a very short time. This is a suicidal decision.”
Ibrahim Khokon, another coordinator, alleged that the port officials have been compelled to stay in Dhaka and are forced to sign the agreement.
“In this situation, there is no scope to ease the movement. Therefore, we have decided to continue the protests indefinitely,” he said.
Shipping Adviser M Sakhawat Hossain told the media yesterday that the government would not take any decision that goes against the national interest in managing the country’s ports.
All operational activities, like loading and unloading of cargo and containers from vessels at the main jetties and cargo delivery from port yards, remained suspended since the strike started this morning.
Vessel movement was also badly disrupted, with two vessels failing to sail from the port jetties, and eight vessels could not enter as CPA pilots failed to manoeuvre the ships as the protesters blocked the pilotage process. Only two vessels could leave the port at the very end of the high tide in the afternoon with special assistance from the CPA.
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