Workers halt operations at Chattogram port demanding NCT lease cancellation

Workers and employees at the New Mooring Container Terminal (NCT) of Chattogram Port are observing an eight-hour strike demanding the government cancel its lease of the terminal to foreign company DP World.

The strike began at 8:00am Saturday (January 31) and will continue until 4:00pm.

The industrial action has effectively halted container and cargo handling across the port’s jetties, severely disrupting unloading from ships and transportation of goods.

The strike was called by the Chattogram Port Nationalist Workers’ League and former port CBA leaders. Organisers warned that if their demands are not met, a similar eight-hour strike could be held on Sunday.

Port sources said that with cargo and container-handling machinery operators joining the strike, operations have come to a complete standstill. At the General Cargo Berth (GCB) Terminal, activities of three anchored ships have been fully suspended.

Fazle Ikram Chowdhury, president of the Berth Operators, Ship Handling Operators, and Terminal Operators Owners Association, confirmed that port authority staff are also not working, making it impossible to maintain operations even with available workers. Entry of cargo and container trucks into the port was noticeably lower than normal.

Security has been tightened at the port administrative building in response to the strike. On Friday, the Chattogram Port Authority issued a notice warning that illegal gatherings and strikes over the NCT lease issue could disrupt port operations and trigger strict legal action.