The authorities have arrested Md. Ibrahim Khokon, one of the coordinators of the Chittagong Port Protection Struggle Council, amid ongoing protests against the leasing of the New Mooring Container Terminal (NCT) at Chittagong Port to the UAE-based company, DP World.
The arrest took place on Monday evening (9 February) in the port area, carried out by the local police. Ibrahim Khokon also serves as the General Secretary of the Port Nationalist Workers’ Party. Notably, his detention came just a day after the temporary suspension of the workers’ strike demanding the cancellation of the NCT lease.
Initially, the authorities remained silent about the arrest. However, late Monday night, Aminur Rashid, Additional Deputy Commissioner (Media) of Chittagong Metropolitan Police (CMP), confirmed that a Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) team had taken Ibrahim Khokon into custody and handed him over to the Chittagong Port Police Station. He is currently being interrogated, and subsequent legal action will be determined after verification of the facts.
The protests began on 31 January, when the Port Nationalist Workers’ Party initiated a work stoppage at Chittagong Port to oppose the government’s plan to lease the NCT to foreign operators. The movement soon broadened under the banner of the Chittagong Port Protection Struggle Council, gaining momentum among local labour groups and union activists. The announcement of a temporary strike suspension on 8 February was immediately followed by Khokon’s arrest the next day.
The detention has sparked strong condemnation from labour leaders. The Chittagong Workers’ Employees Unity Council (SCOP) issued a statement denouncing the authorities’ actions, alleging that the administration is deliberately steering workers toward confrontation instead of pursuing peaceful solutions. They described the arrest as a calculated attempt to escalate tensions, following the detention of five port workers on Sunday. The statement demanded the immediate and unconditional release of Ibrahim Khokon and all other detained workers.
Key labour leaders supporting the statement include:
| Name | Affiliation |
|---|---|
| A M Nazim Uddin | Nationalist Workers’ Party |
| Kazi Sheikh Nurullah Bahar | Nationalist Workers’ Party |
| Tapan Dutta | TUC |
| S K Khoda Toton | SCOP |
| Iftikhar Kamal Khan | SCOP |
| Khorshedul Alam | Labour Activist |
| Kazi Anwarul Haque Huni | Labour Activist |
| Nurul Absar Touhid | Labour Activist |
The ongoing unrest highlights growing discontent among local workers over foreign control of port operations and their demands for national oversight. Labour organisations continue to call for dialogue and legal safeguards, warning that further arrests could exacerbate tensions and disrupt port operations.