Chittagong Port Closed Again Due to Strike

Chittagong Port has once again ground to a halt as workers launched a renewed strike on Sunday, protesting against the proposed transfer of the New Mooring Container Terminal (NCT) operations to DP World, a company based in the United Arab Emirates, along with four other demands.

According to the Chittagong Port Struggle Committee, the strike began at 8:00 a.m., with port workers and employees halting all operations across multiple jetties. The movement of goods, loading and unloading of containers, and delivery activities have come to a standstill. No trailers or other vehicles used for cargo transportation entered the port premises throughout the morning.

“The operational functions of the port have effectively stopped,” said Md. Ibrahim Khokon, one of the coordinators of the Struggle Committee. He added that all workers and employees were fully supporting the strike and refused to perform their duties.

The protesters have accused the authorities of adopting alternative measures to suppress the demonstration. A significant contingent of police and military personnel has been deployed within and around the port. The committee also alleged that two of their members, Shamsu Mia and Abul Kalam Azad, were forcibly taken by law enforcement agencies.

The strike follows a series of protests that began on 31 January, when the Nationalist Port Workers’ Party called a work stoppage in opposition to handing over NCT management to DP World. Subsequently, the movement continued under the banner of the Chittagong Port Struggle Committee. The committee initiated continuous protests last Tuesday, briefly suspending their action following a meeting with Shipping Adviser M. Sakhawat Hossain, who visited the port last Thursday.

However, after consultations, the Struggle Committee leaders announced on Saturday afternoon that the strike would resume on Sunday at 8:00 a.m. Their demands extend beyond the reversal of the NCT transfer and include the withdrawal of punitive actions against striking employees, assurance that no legal measures will be taken against protestors, and the removal of the current Chairman of Chittagong Port.

Strike Overview

The resumption of the strike marks the latest chapter in an ongoing labour dispute that has repeatedly disrupted operations at one of Bangladesh’s busiest maritime gateways, raising concerns among importers, exporters, and supply chain stakeholders nationwide.