NCT lease deal: Protesting Ctg Port workers finally meet shipping adviser
Today marks the sixth day of the strike against awarding the lease of the New Mooring Container Terminal (NCT) to Dubai-based DP World.
Chattogram Port worker leaders have finally agreed to hold talks with Shipping Adviser Brig Gen (retd) M Sakhawat Hossain to find a resolution as today marks the sixth day of the strike against the lease of the New Mooring Container Terminal (NCT) to Dubai-based DP World.
At 2pm, Humayun Kabir, coordinator of the Bandar Rokkha Sangram Oikya Parishad, a platform of port employees and workers, told reporters that "no problem can be solved without dialogue. That's why we have decided to attend the meeting at the Boat Club at 3:30pm."
A 14-member representative team of port workers will participate in the discussions.
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Regarding their position, Humayun Kabir said, "Our demand is clear: the contract must be cancelled. Once our demand is accepted, the work stoppage will be withdrawn."
He added that after speaking with the adviser in the morning, it appeared that the adviser was not fully aware of the economic implications of the contract. "We will present the issues and try to make the adviser understand that this contract is against the national interest. He has assured us that no country-harming agreement will be allowed," he said.
He also blamed the port authorities' chairman for the tense situation earlier in the day, saying that warnings of punitive action against workers angered them and escalated the situation. "We hope that through dialogue, a resolution can be reached," he added.
Earlier, the shipping adviser faced protest by workers when he visited the Bandar Bhaban at Chattogram Port to assess the situation this morning (5 February).
He held meetings with key stakeholders and senior port officials from 10am but reached no resolution and left around 12:30pm without meeting the striking workers, who were seen chanting a number of slogans - including "Bhua, Bhua (Fake)," "DP World go back," and "Ma, Mati, Bandar, Bideshider Dibo Na [We won't give our port to foreigners]."
Humayun Kabir, coordinator of the Bandar Rokkha Sangram Oikya Parishad, told journalists the adviser had invited workers to discuss the matter at the Boat Club, but they refused, insisting the issue be resolved inside the Chittagong Port Authority (CPA) building.
Earlier, at around 10:40am, the adviser faced opposition from workers while entering the CPA building and was reportedly held for about 20 minutes.
Since this morning, security measures have been strengthened at the port, with police, army, and navy personnel deployed. All port gates have been closed, and no workers are being allowed to enter the terminals. Port operations remain completely suspended for the third consecutive day.
Meanwhile, the port authority has invited business leaders to another meeting at the Boat Club at 3:30pm.
As a result of the shutdown, more than 11,000 export-laden containers have remained stranded at the port.
The protest started last Saturday (31 January) with an eight-hour daily work stoppage from 8am to 4pm, before escalating over the government's lack of response.
According to labour leaders, the authorities moved ahead with preparations to sign the lease and attempted to suppress the movement by transferring leaders, prompting the Bandar Rokkha Sangram Oikya Parishad to announce a 24-hour shutdown from Tuesday morning, followed by an indefinite strike from yesterday (4 February).
Chattogram business leaders met labour representatives yesterday afternoon, expressing moral support for the movement while urging alternative protests to limit economic losses, but labour leaders refused to withdraw the stoppage and reiterated their demand to cancel the DP World lease.
