Strike at Ctg port continues as containers pile up

The agitating employees of the Chittagong Port Authority (CPA) observed another eight-hour strike on Sunday, suspending the operational activities at the port for the second consecutive day.
Although the agitators earlier announced to keep administrative activities suspended with the operational ones, there was an insignificant impact on administrative activities, said sources.
On the other hand, the strike protesting the government’s move to lease out the New-Mooring Container Terminal (NCT) to Dubai-based DP World was extended for another eight-hour today, according to a press release.
Like Saturday, the strike that began at 8am significantly disrupted container loading, unloading and transportation before the resumption of the operational activities after 4pm.
However, the protesters didn’t stage any demonstration on the road apparently following an embargo imposed by Chattogram Metropolitan Police (CMP) on gathering in and around the port.
The Chattogram Bandar Rakkha Sangram Parishad, which is leading the strike, called upon all workers’ organisations and stakeholders to help ensure the success of the movement. Humayun Kabir, coordinator of the council and the Chattogram Bandar Jatiyatabadi Sramik Dal, told the Daily Sun that seven more staff members involved in the movement had been transferred to different port establishments by the authorities as of Sunday.

He said that the next course of action would be announced later.
Fazle Ekram Chowdhury, president of the Chattogram Port Berth Operators, Ship Handling Operators and Terminal Operators Owners Association, told the Daily Sun that there were four vessels berthed at General Cargo Berth (GCB) on Sunday.
“As deliveries are not taking place in between 8am to 4pm, containers are gradually piling up,” he said, fearing further container and vessel congestion.
According to sources in the CPA, there were 32,111 containers lying at the yards as of Saturday. With delivery of only 1,750 TEUs containers, against over 4,000 TEUs on average, the number of containers stood at 32,873 on Sunday.
Bangladesh Inland Container Depots Association (BICDA) Ruhul Amin Sikder said container transportation was hampered during the strike hours on Sunday.
Against an average of 2,500 TEUs containers, a total of 1,610 TEUs of export containers were sent to port for shipment while only 460 TEUs of import containers, against on average 1,200 TEUs, were brought to the ICDs during the strike on Saturday.
Currently, there are 8,900 TEUs import, 8,500 TEUs export and 51,500 TEUs empty containers are lying at the 21 ICDs in Chattogram, he said. Talking to reporters in front of Bandar Bhaban on Sunday, CPA Director (Administration) and spokesperson Omar Faruk called upon the stakeholders to come for their services and not to pay heed to any propaganda.
He said the transfer of the staff members was usual administrative procedure.
“The agitation before signing the deal is impacting the prices of the essential commodities. We want to keep the prices stable and everybody should consider the matter,” he said, informing that a committee has been formed to assess the damages due to the strike.
Regarding the deal, the director said the activities are going on through the PPP authority following the related guideline.
The CPA is an implementing authority of government decisions, he added.    
The government’s move to hand over the NCT, which handles around 44% of the port’s total container traffic, has drawn strong protests from various quarters since last year.

The process of appointing a foreign operator began during the tenure of the ousted Awami League government.
In 2023, a Saudi Arabian firm was appointed to operate the Patenga Container Terminal, and plans were also initiated to lease out the NCT to DP World. After the interim government assumed office, the move gained further momentum.