Chittagong Port remains at a standstill for the third consecutive day as labour unrest continues unabated. On Thursday morning, at around 10:30 am, Shipping Adviser M. Sakhawat Hossain confronted the striking workers at the port gates. The protesters, visibly agitated, raised various slogans demanding immediate attention.
Stepping out of his vehicle, the adviser engaged directly with the workers, attempting to calm the situation and offer assurances. Ibrahim Khokon, coordinator of the Chittagong Port Protection Struggle Council, told Hossain, “I have been working at this port for 32 years, but I have never seen a chairman like Rear Admiral S. M. Moniruzzaman. Over the past year and a half, we have faced repeated harassment. We are denied meetings and responses. We demand his removal.”
During the discussion, Adviser Hossain assured the workers, saying, “I will speak to you one-on-one. The chairman will not be involved. I will listen to you, and you must also hear me.” This brief exchange provided some reassurance to the protesters, though the strike remained firm.
By 12:30 pm, following a meeting with port users, the adviser returned to engage the demonstrators again. The strike, now entering its third day, has completely disrupted port operations. Since Thursday morning, no containers have been exported, and imports remain unclaimed.
The labour action was triggered by the decision to lease the New Mooring Container Terminal (NCT) to DP World, UAE. Led by the Chittagong Port Protection Struggle Council, the strike initially involved eight-hour work stoppages from Saturday but escalated to continuous action from Tuesday.
The closure has severely affected operations across three major terminals—General Cargo Berth (GCB), Chittagong Container Terminal (CCT), and New Mooring Container Terminal (NCT). At Patenga’s ‘RSGLT Chittagong’ terminal, one vessel departed on Tuesday, but no vessels were berthed on Wednesday, leaving the terminal completely empty.
The table below summarises the current operational status at key terminals:
| Terminal Name | Operational Status | Last Vessel Departure | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| General Cargo Berth (GCB) | Closed | – | Workers continue strike |
| Chittagong Container Terminal (CCT) | Closed | – | Container transport halted |
| New Mooring Container Terminal (NCT) | Closed | – | Blockade over DP World lease |
| RSGLT Chittagong (Patenga) | Partial | Tuesday | No vessels berthed yesterday |
The Chittagong Port Protection Struggle Council has warned that if their demands are not met, the strike may escalate further, prolonging the paralysis of the nation’s busiest port.