Chattogram: Operational activities at Chattogram seaport have resumed following the suspension of an indefinite strike called by labor and employees leaders protesting the leasing out of the New Mooring Container Terminal (NCT) to a foreign operator. Mohammad Omar Faruk, director (Admin) of Chattogram Port Authority, informed BSS that all operational activities related to export-import trade at port jetties, container terminals, and outer anchorages were resumed at 8 am on Monday.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, the Chattogram Bandar Rakkha Sangram Parishad (Chattogram Port Protection Movement Council) had previously initiated a work abstention program in two phases over the past eight days, causing a complete halt to operations at the country's primary seaport, which handles 90 percent of export-import cargo annually. A press release from the Chattogram Bandar Rakkha Sangram Parishad, signed by its Coordinators Md Humayun Kabir and Md Ibrahim Khokan, confirmed the suspension of the protest to facilitate the upcoming 13th parliamentary election and ensure the delivery of inbound cargo ahead of the holy month of Ramadan.
The delay in signing the lease agreement for NCT operation with DP World, a Dubai-based globally reputed port operator, and successful discussions between CPA Chairman Rear Admiral Sayed Mohammad Moniruzzaman and trade union leaders, led to the suspension of the strike. The Sangram Parishad leaders announced that the strike will remain suspended from February 9 to February 15, with a new agitation program to be declared if their five-point demands are not met.
The five-point demands include the release of five arrested workers, withdrawal of cases against them, reversal of transfer orders for 15 workers and employees to different port installations outside Chattogram, cancellation of decisions to withdraw housing allocations for some employees, and termination orders for 16 workers and employees. Sangram Parishad leaders described the recent CPA decisions against workers and employees involved in the agitation as harassment, aimed at undermining their protest efforts.