Operations at the Chittagong Port’s New Mooring Container Terminal (NCT) were again paralysed on Monday, the third day of a work stoppage protesting the decision to lease the terminal to foreign operators.
The stoppage, which began at 8am and continued until 3pm, disrupted the loading and unloading of containers and cargo at the jetties.
Meanwhile, the Chittagong Port Protection Struggle Council announced a 24-hour work stoppage from 8am on Tuesday, demanding the cancellation of the decision to lease out the NCT.
The announcement was made at a press conference in front of the port building by Ibrahim Hossain, a joint coordinator of the council.
He said stricter programs would be announced if the transfer orders of the employees concerned were not withdrawn.
The council’s coordinator Md Humayun Kabir and other protest leaders were present at the press conference.
After the first day of the stoppage on Saturday, port authorities immediately transferred four employees involved in the movement and formed a six-member committee to assess the revenue losses caused by the disruption.
On Sunday, another 12 employees linked to the protest were transferred.
In total, 16 port employees have been transferred to two port offices in Dhaka under separate orders.
