After an uninterrupted 16-and-a-half-hour protest, the Chittagong Port Strike Committee announced the suspension of its ongoing strike. The announcement was made in a press release issued shortly after midnight on Sunday.
The statement, signed by the committee’s coordinators, Md. Humayun Kabir and Ibrahim Khokon, explained that the strike would be temporarily suspended from 8:00 am on Monday until 15 February. The suspension has been scheduled to ensure smooth goods clearance during the forthcoming national parliamentary elections and the holy month of Ramadan. However, the committee stressed that if five core issues—including the arrest of port employees, arbitrary transfers, and temporary suspensions—remain unresolved, the strike will resume on 16 February.
| Strike Details | Information |
|---|---|
| Start time | Sunday, 8:00 am |
| Duration before suspension | 16.5 hours |
| Reason for temporary suspension | National elections and Ramadan goods clearance |
| Issues pending resolution | 1. Arrests of port employees 2. Harassment and punitive transfers 3. Temporary suspensions 4. Other workplace grievances 5. Reinstatement of affected staff |
| Resumption date (if unresolved) | 16 February 2026 |
The strike initially began at 8:00 am on Sunday, with port employees demanding action on four principal points, including the refusal to lease the New Mooring Container Terminal (NCT). Despite reassurances, the protesters continued their demonstration into the evening.
Speaking at a press conference at the Foreign Service Academy on Bailey Road in Dhaka, Ashique Chowdhury, Executive Chairman of the Bangladesh Investment Development Authority (BIDA), stated that during the current interim government’s tenure, there was no likelihood of signing the lease agreement for Chittagong Port’s NCT with the UAE-based company DP World. Nevertheless, the port employees remained steadfast in their strike.
Later in the evening, punitive measures taken against certain port workers prompted the committee to announce the continuation of the strike at 9:00 pm.
Ultimately, after internal discussions and deliberations over the emerging situation, the Chittagong Port Strike Committee decided at 12:30 am to suspend the strike. The official statement noted that the decision was taken “in the public interest after consultations with senior leadership.”
This temporary suspension has brought relief to importers, exporters, and shipping lines, who were facing operational disruptions at Bangladesh’s busiest maritime gateway. However, the situation remains tense, with the possibility of renewed industrial action if the committee’s demands are not addressed.