Work abstention paralyses Ctg Port

Business Report :

A strike by workers and employees at Chattogram Port has created a deadlock in protest against the decision to lease the New Mooring Container Terminal (NCT) to foreigners.

Since 8 am on Saturday, port employees and private workers have not joined the work of loading and unloading containers and goods from ships at the port jetty.

As a result, the activities of loading and unloading containers from ships at the GCB Terminal, CCT and NCT have come to a standstill. Ibrahim Khokon, general secretary of the Chattogram Port Nationalist Workers Party said, Employees and workers has joined our program, according to press release.

The strike will continue until 4 pm. The port authority notification said that protests, meetings and processions against government decisions and postings on social media are clear professional misconduct and punishable offenses under the Disrupting Law and Order Speedy Trial Act 2002, Government Employees (Conduct) Rules-1979 and Chattogram Port Employees Job Regulations-1991 and related laws. Such activities are disrupting the normal operations of the port, which is against the national interest.

The notification signed by Port Authority Director (Administration) Mohammad Omar Farooq has said that punitive action will be taken against officers and employees who participate in processions, exercises and protests during office hours.

The Port Nationalist Workers Party called for the program on Thursday in protest against the government decision to lease NCT to UAE-based Company DP World.

According to the program, administrative and operational activities will be suspended for 8 hours on Sunday as well. Meanwhile, the process of loading export containers brought from private depots onto ships is underway at NCT.