Chittagong Port Workers Call 24-Hour Strike

Chittagong Port is set to witness a 24-hour strike as workers protest against the lease agreement for the New Mooring Container Terminal (NCT). The call for the strike was issued by the Port Protection Struggle Council in response to government decisions regarding the terminal.

On Monday, 2 February, marking the third day of an eight-hour work stoppage, port employees announced an escalation of their protest. They argue that handing over this vital and profitable port facility to foreign entities, specifically DP World, undermines national interests. While workers have taken action to safeguard these interests, the government has reportedly responded with transfers and other punitive measures instead of engaging in dialogue.

In a recent series of moves, 16 employees were transferred on Saturday and Sunday to Pangao and Kamalapur Inland Container Depots (ICDs). A new ministerial order on Monday further transferred 15 employees to Mongla and Payra ports, which are distinct institutions under separate administration. Workers have refused to report to their new postings, pledging to remain steadfast in their protest.

Port authorities, however, maintain that the strike is unjustified, asserting that the movement appears to be influenced by vested interests rather than legitimate grievances.

The ongoing industrial action has already disrupted port operations. Container handling has ground to a halt, creating significant congestion across various yards. Thirty-five mother vessels carrying essential goods, including Ramadan shipments, are currently anchored offshore, with unloading from lighters also halted. Private depots and off-docks under Chittagong Port are experiencing severely slowed operations, raising concerns among importers and business communities.

A table illustrating the operational impact is shown below:

Workers’ unions held a black-flag march from Agrabad Chowmuhuni on Monday morning, demanding a halt to the NCT leasing process and the removal of the Port and BIDA chairmen. Stickers and posters declaring “Strike in Progress” were placed across port walls. The Bangladesh Communist Party expressed solidarity with the strike.

According to Md. Ibrahim Khokon, General Secretary of the Nationalist Port Workers’ League, workers have been voicing objections to the NCT lease for over a month. With the interim government’s term ending in just nine days, the accelerated leasing process has raised suspicions about hidden interests. Khokon said the workers’ spontaneous protest reflects widespread anger, emphasising that they will continue until their demands are met.

Port Director (Administration) Md. Omar Faruk reported that as of Monday, 37,000 containers were stranded at the port. Normal daily deliveries typically exceed 3,000 TEUs, meaning the strike has cut throughput by over half. Ruhul Amin Sikder, Secretary of the Bangladesh Inland Container Depots Association (BICDA), warned that delays at off-docks threaten the country’s garment exports and could have severe economic repercussions if the port remains non-operational.

The strike highlights growing tension between labour and government over the control of one of Bangladesh’s most critical economic gateways, underscoring the potential for broader economic consequences if resolution is not swiftly achieved.