Deadlock at Chattogram Port: Solution possible through dialogue

It is worrying that the ongoing impasse at Chattogram Port due to an operational deadlock by workers and employees entered its third consecutive day on Monday.

They are striking since Saturday morning protesting against the leasing of the New Mooring Container Terminal (NCT) to a foreign company.

All operational activities at the port’s three terminals have been suspended since the day, according to media reports.

Chittagong Port is the lifeblood of the national economy as 85 percent of the country’s imports and exports are handled through it.

Therefore, the said deadlock is not only a loss for the traders who use the port, but it is also a major blow to the national economy.

Therefore, the amount of revenue loss in the event of the strike at the port is immense.

However, the workers and employees are conducting the strike by announcing the reason behind it.

The protesting leaders have told media that they would launch a more stringent program if the decision to lease the NCT terminal to a foreign company is not reversed.

Even though the four employees leading the ongoing movement were immediately transferred from Chattogram Port to Pangaon Naval Terminal in Dhaka, they continued the movement despite the orders.

The interim government suddenly announced a policy decision last year to lease the NCT of Chittagong Port to a foreign company.

However, the main duty of this government, formed through a mass uprising, was to conduct elections, reforms, and complete judicial work. Instead, it is not clear why the illusion of granting a port lease occurred.

Since then, various political parties, including port workers and employees, have been opposing the decision.

While the port authority’s responsibility was to hold talks with the protesters to resolve the impasse, a kind of de-escalation approach has been adopted.

It should be remembered that the issue of involving foreign companies in port management is very sensitive.

Its sensitivity has increased further due to geopolitical reasons and the fact that it is the only functioning port.

Like the current government, various governments in the past have tried to take similar decisions, citing the need to improve port management and thereby end bribery and corruption.

But they were not successful in the face of the protests by workers and employees.

Any decision should be taken and implemented after taking the views of all the stakeholders concerned.

This is our expectation that the government and the port authority will follow the same path regarding the port lease as well.