Employees and workers at Chattogram port began a 24-hour work abstention this morning, escalating their protest against the government decision to lease out the New Mooring Container Terminal (NCT) to UAE-based operator DP World.The decision followed a partial strike observed for three consecutive days since January 31, after which the protesters opted for a tougher programme.
Loading and unloading of cargo and containers at different jetties of the port’s oldest General Cargo Berth (GCB) terminal came to a halt minutes after 8:00am, berth operators said.Activities at the Chittagong Container Terminal (CCT) and NCT, operated by Chittagong Dry Dock Limited (CDDL), continued briefly in the morning but were stopped around 9:45am as protesters intensified agitation, a port official said on condition of anonymity.Delivery of imported cargo and containers from port yards remained completely suspended due to the strike, the official added.

Coordinator of Chattogram Bandar Rokkha Sangram Parishad, Md Humayun Kabir, said workers and employees were gradually joining the work abstention.

Transport of import, export and empty containers between the port and 19 privately owned inland container depots (ICDs) also remained suspended from morning, as port employees operating the computerised Terminal Operating System (TOS) — which manages container movements — stopped work, sources said