Naval Adviser Confronts Striking Workers at Chittagong

Chittagong Port witnessed a tense standoff on Thursday morning as striking workers blocked the gates, prompting the Bangladesh Naval Adviser for Shipping, M. Sakhawat Hossain, to step out of his vehicle and engage them directly. The confrontation occurred around 10:30 a.m., marking the third consecutive day of the port-wide labour protest. Demonstrators raised a series of slogans expressing their discontent over port administration decisions.

The naval adviser was en route to attend a meeting at the port office when he encountered the protestors. Facing resistance at the gates, Hossain alighted from his car and spoke with the workers. Among them, Ibrahim Khokon, coordinator of the Chittagong Port Protection Struggle Council, addressed the adviser:

“I have been working at the port for 32 years, but I have never experienced a chairman like Rear Admiral S. M. Moniruzzaman. Over the past eighteen months, we have faced harassment in various forms. Even when we seek a meeting, we are denied access. We demand the removal of this chairman.”

In response, the adviser reassured the protestors, saying, “I will speak with you one-on-one. The chairman will not remain. I have been working with you over the past two years. I will listen to your concerns, and you must also listen to mine.”

Despite these assurances, when leaving the port at around 12:30 p.m. after a meeting with port users, Hossain once again encountered protests.

The strike has rendered port operations largely paralysed. No containers were exported on Thursday morning, and imported goods have not been cleared from the port yard.

The industrial action is being conducted under the banner of the Chittagong Port Protection Struggle Council, protesting the leasing of the New Mooring Container Terminal (NCT) to DP World, the UAE-based port operator. Initially, workers implemented an eight-hour strike over three days, starting last Saturday, but escalated to a continuous work stoppage from Tuesday.

On Thursday morning, demonstrators occupied multiple port gates, obstructing staff and vehicles attempting to enter.

The strike has effectively halted operations at three major terminals:

The impasse continues, raising concerns over trade disruption and delays in both import and export activities.