Workers protest plan to lease out NCT, Laldiar Char

The Chattogram Sramik-Karmachari Oikya Parishad (SKOP) staged a torch procession this evening (15 November) protesting the government's move to lease out the Newmooring Container Terminal (NCT) and Laldiar Char to foreign companies. 

The protesters said the move threatens national interests and demanded its immediate withdrawal.

The march began at Halishahar Nayabazar and ended at Boropul, drawing workers from dock, transport and port-affiliated unions.

Speaking at a brief rally before the procession, Tapan Dutta, president of Trade Union Centre's Chattogram district committee and member of the Labour Reform Commission, said the port is central to the country's economy and should never be handed over to foreign entities. 

"Dock workers, C&F workers and the country's working people will run the port. Not foreign companies," he said. 

He called the continuation of the previous administration's "one-sided leasing plan" by the interim government regrettable.

Dutta warned that strategic assets cannot be handed to foreign operators. "If the government does not withdraw the decision to lease out NCT and Laldiar Char, we will launch countrywide action and bring operations at the port to a halt," he said. 

He also announced that a divisional workers' convention will be held at the Chattogram Press Club on 22 November.

Kazi Shaikh Nurullah Bahar, divisional general secretary of Jatiyatabadi Sramik Dal and former general secretary, criticised a recent police circular restricting rallies in the port city, calling it an intrusion on democratic rights. 

"If new restrictions are imposed, the movement will only intensify," he said.

SK Khoda Toton, president of Bangladesh Labour Federation; Taslim Hossain Selim, general secretary of Dock Sramik Dal; and Ibrahim Khokon, general secretary of Bandar Sramik Dal, also spoke.

Trade union representatives including Khorshedul Alam, Zahid Uddin Shahin, Kazi Anwarul Haque Hunny and Nurul Absar were present.