Ctg port near standstill on 2nd day of workers’ strike; CMP bans gatherings

Workers and staff at Chattogram Port resumed their eight-hour work abstention for the second consecutive day this morning, protesting the planned handover of the New Mooring Container Terminal (NCT) to foreign firm DP World.

Loading and unloading of cargo and containers from vessels at all jetties of the port’s different terminals and cargo deliveries came to a halt from 8:00am due to the work stoppage, port sources said.

Meanwhile, the Chattogram Metropolitan Police (CMP) has imposed a ban on all forms of processions, meetings, rallies and human chains in areas surrounding Chattogram Port for 30 days, effective from today (February 1).

CMP Commissioner Hasib Aziz issued a public notice in this regard yesterday evening.

Berth operators of the port’s oldest terminal, the General Cargo Berth (GCB), said loading and unloading activities at four vessels, including a container vessel, at the GCB jetties remained completely suspended as workers and staff joined the work abstention.

Humayun Kabir, a coordinator of Chattogram Bandar Rokkha Oikya Parishad, said operations at all terminals — GCB, CCT and NCT — remained suspended.

The ban, issued under Sections 29 and 30 of the Chattogram Metropolitan Police Ordinance, 1978, covers several key locations adjacent to the port, including Barek Building intersection, Nimtola intersection, Jetty Gate No. 3, Customs intersection, Saltgola Crossing, and all surrounding port areas.

Noting that around 5,000 to 6,000 cargo vehicles use the port areas daily to transport essential commodities, industrial raw materials and other import-export goods, the notice said organising processions, rallies, human chains and street meetings in the port area causes severe traffic congestion, disrupting the import-export process.

Such disruption is considered seriously detrimental to the national economy and poses a serious threat to national security, the notice added.

The notice, however, said rallies and processions brought out by different candidates and political parties as part of their election campaign would be out of the purview of the ban.

It is mentionable that Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Dr Shafiqur Rahman is scheduled to join a grand election rally at the Chattogram Port Authority School and College ground tomorrow evening.

source : thedailystar