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Chittagong Port workers and employees have launched a work stoppage to protest the decision to appoint foreign companies to operate the New Mooring Container Terminal (NCT).
The operations at the Chittagong Port have come to a halt following the enforcement of the protest by the port unit of the Jatiotabadi Sramik Dal (JSD).
Permanent employees and private-sector workers at the port abstained from work during the strike that started at 8:00 am on Saturday.
Port officials confirmed that operations at various cargo berths, the CCT, and the NCT are being disrupted due to the strike, bdnews24.com reports.
The operational activities of ships, however, are continuing as usual, they said.
“Workers and employees at the port have not participated in any work in the morning. Machines did not start at the port,” said Ibrahim Khokon, general secretary of the Chittagong Port JSD.
He announced that the strike will continue until 4:00 am.
“We will enforce a similar protest on Sunday as well,” he said.
Chittagong Port Authority Director Omar Faruk said some people demonstrated at different gates of the port in the morning.
He said administrative activities were closed on Saturday, but delivery of goods from the port started late.
“The overall situation will become clear as the day progresses,” he said.
The work stoppage was announced on Thursday following the interim government’s decision to hand over the NCT to UAE-based DP World. The Sramik Karmachari Oikya Parishad has also expressed their support for the protest.
On Thursday, they also held protest marches and assemblies inside the port building.
The Chittagong Port Authority warned employees against taking part in any movement like Thursday’s protest.