Chattogram port workers and employees have initiated a fresh indefinite strike starting today, taking a more stringent stance by threatening to disrupt cargo handling at the outer anchorage, which was excluded during the previous six-day work stoppage.
The demonstrators decided to delay the work stoppage by two days on Thursday afternoon after a meeting with Shipping Adviser M Sakhawat Hossain. They agreed to postpone the indefinite strike following assurances that two of their demands would be addressed, including the withdrawal of punitive transfers and other actions taken against the 15 protesting employees by the port authority.
However, tensions escalated when the Chittagong Port Authority (CPA) issued a letter on the same day, urging authorities such as the Anti-Corruption Commission to investigate the assets of the 15 employees and impose travel bans on them for allegedly engaging in disruptive activities under the guise of a movement at the port.
Leaders of the Chattogram Bandar Rakkha Parishad expressed dissatisfaction with CPA Chairman M Moniruzzaman’s actions, accusing him of provoking the protesters and attempting to destabilize the port to disrupt the upcoming elections. They demanded an investigation into corruption allegations amounting to Tk 500 crore during Moniruzzaman’s tenure as the managing director of the Bangladesh Shipping Corporation.
Despite assurances from the shipping adviser, the Parishad Coordinator Md Humayun Kabir highlighted the lack of progress on discussing the New Mooring Container Terminal (NCT) deal issue with higher government authorities. In response, they declared their intention to continue the indefinite strike until their demands, including canceling the proposed deal with UAE-based DP World over the NCT lease, are met.
The demands also include the removal of the port chairman, rescinding punitive actions against the 15 employees, reinstating them in their former positions, and ensuring no legal actions are taken against them. Efforts to reach Moniruzzaman and Sakhawat for comments were unsuccessful.
Simultaneously, the CPA arranged an emergency meeting with employees and workers from various departments today. Although directed to ensure the presence of specific personnel, leaders of employee and worker organizations expressed reluctance to attend, citing a loss of trust in the authority’s selective approach to inviting attendees to create division among protesters.
The port experienced significant activity over the weekend after the temporary suspension of the work stoppage, with a surge in inbound and outgoing vessels and cargo movements. The ongoing port issues have caused substantial direct and indirect damages, prompting calls from industry associations for immediate government intervention to resolve the situation.
Businesses are facing challenges due to the port disruptions, with concerns raised by industry representatives about potential delays in timely deliveries affecting international clothing retailers and brands that source garment items from Bangladesh.
