Workers and employees of Chittagong Port have gone on a 24-hour strike since Tuesday morning to protest against the government’s move to lease the New Mooring Container Terminal (NCT) to a foreign operator, bringing operations at the country’s main seaport to a virtual standstill.
After a three-day partial strike since January 31, the protesters tightened their program to achieve their demands. Cargo and container movements from ships at the General Cargo Berth stopped shortly after 8 am. Although limited operations were carried out at the CCT and NCT terminals for some time, work there also came to a halt when the protest began around 9:30 am.
The strike has halted the supply of imported goods from the port’s yards. At the same time, import-export and empty container transport between Chittagong Port and the country’s 19 private inland container depots have also been completely suspended.
Leaders of the Chittagong Port Protection Unity Council said that workers and employees are joining the strike in phases. Those concerned say that it has not been possible to resume port operations due to the closure of the terminal operating system.