Ctg Port resumes operations after 7-day disruption as workers suspend strike until 15 Feb
The move comes after the government told journalists that the current administration would not sign the NCT agreement during its tenure.
Highlights:
- Workers, employees at Chattogram Port suspend their indefinite strike until 15 February
- Decision made considering polls, need to keep goods moving ahead of Ramadan, they say
- Adviser, Bida chief told journalists interim government would not sign NCT agreement during its tenure
- Workers warn failure to address their concerns will prompt fresh programmes
Operations at Chattogram Port resumed this morning (9 February) after a seven-day disruption, as workers and employees suspended their strike, allowing cargo handling and container delivery to restart across the country's largest seaport.
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Ships have begun discharging goods at jetties, while delivery of loaded containers from terminals has restarted. Workers and employees also rejoined duties during the morning shift, ending the paralysis that had gripped the port since 31 January.
However, the Chattogram Bandar Rokkha Sangram Parishad, which has been spearheading protests for the past nine days, said its indefinite strike has been suspended until 15 February, considering the upcoming general election and the need to keep goods moving ahead of Ramadan.
On 31 January, the movement began with three days of eight-hour work stoppages demanding cancellation of the NCT leasing process. From Tuesday last week, workers escalated the programme into an indefinite strike.
Although the strike was suspended on Friday and Saturday following a meeting with the shipping adviser, it was reinstated on Sunday, with the parishad alleging continued punitive measures against protesters.
The parishad had been pressing for four demands, including the suspension of the leasing process of the New Mooring Container Terminal (NCT) to DP World, the resignation of the port chairman, and the withdrawal of all punitive measures taken against protesting workers and employees.
Backlog of cargo and vessels
The disruption left export containers worth around Tk6,500 crore stranded at inland container depots (ICDs).
A total of 13,483 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) remained stuck, while another 1,400 TEUs were expected to enter the depots on Monday. At the port's terminal yards, more than 41,000 TEUs were piled up, according to stakeholders.
More than 90 vessels carrying food grains, commodities and other cargo were waiting at the port and outer anchorage. Business leaders warned that prolonged disruption could severely affect foreign trade and the wider economy.
At least 40 of the stranded vessels were carrying food grains and other essential items imported ahead of increased demand during Ramadan.
During Sunday's strike, operations at the port's three main terminals – the General Cargo Berth (GCB), Chittagong Container Terminal (CCT) and New Mooring Container Terminal – as well as at the outer anchorage, had come to a complete halt.
The deadlock eased after the government announced, ahead of the national elections, that it would not sign any agreement with DP World. Following the announcement, workers and employees suspended their strike in the early hours of yesterday.
Fazle Ekram Chowdhury, president of the Berth Operators Association, said the situation had returned to normal. "The deadlock has been resolved. Work has started on all seven vessels at the GCB terminal," he told The Business Standard.
Sarwar Hosen Sagar, president of the Ship Handling and Berth Operators Association, said though workers were present during the strike, unloading remained suspended. "Once the strike was withdrawn, we resumed unloading in the early hours. From this morning, operations are in full swing," he said.
Ruhul Amin Sikder, secretary general of the Bangladesh Inland Container Depot Association, also confirmed that export container shipments to the port and delivery of import containers resumed.
Suspension till 15 Feb
Meanwhile, Chattogram Bandar Rokkha Sangram Parishad issued a press statement early today, noting that the strike would remain suspended until 15 February, considering the national parliamentary elections and the need to clear essential goods ahead of Ramadan.
However, the statement, signed by coordinators Humayun Kabir and Ibrahim Khokon, warned that a fresh programme would be announced from 16 February if five outstanding issues, including arrests, transfers and temporary suspensions of protesters, were not resolved.
Attempts to contact Chattogram Port Authority spokesperson and Director (administration) Omar Faruk for updates on port operations were unsuccessful.
