Jatiyatabadi Sramik Dal at Chattogram Port has announced a two-day strike to protest the government’s decision to lease New Mooring Container Terminal (NCT) to Dubai-based DP World.
The announcement was made at a press conference on Thursday at Chattogram Press Club by leaders of the port’s Jatiyatabadi Sramik Dal and its former CBA.
Under the program, all operational activities at Chattogram Port will be halted from 8 AM to 4 PM on Saturday, January 31.
A strike of administrative activities is scheduled for the same hours on the following day, Sunday, February 1.
The union said the next phase of the movement will be announced at 5 PM on Sunday.
General Secretary Ibrahim Khokon said the government had taken advantage of the ongoing election period to complete the lease of the strategically important NCT to a foreign company.
“We have been protesting this decision for the past one and a half years, but the government is ignoring national interests to implement a foreign agenda. Leasing NCT to a foreign company is extremely dangerous and threatens our national security and sovereignty,” Khokon said.
He added that the strike is aimed at demanding the cancellation of the lease, and warned that more stringent actions would follow if the demand is not met.
Meanwhile, Sramik Karmachari Oikya Parishad (SKOP) held an emergency press conference at Chattogram Press Club on Thursday afternoon and expressed solidarity with the strike program.
AH/SH
