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Friday | October 09, 2026 | Dhaka
DP World Deal

Ctg port workers announce hunger strike

 Staff Reporter
 Published: 12:01 AM, 09 October 2026

Chattogram Port workers protesting the handover of New Mooring Container Terminal (NCT) operations to Dubai-based DP World have announced a two-hour hunger strike on 12 October, hours after the government signed a 15-year concession agreement with the global port operator.

The programme was announced at a rally in front of the Chittagong Port Authority (CPA) building around 4pm on Thursday.

Humayun Kabir, a coordinator of the Bandar Rokkha Sangram Parishad, said workers were still willing to give the government time to open discussions.

“The government has already signed the agreement, so there is little left to say. But we want to give the government more time,” he said. He urged the government to create a path for dialogue by Sunday, failing which workers will hold the hunger strike on Monday from 11am to 1pm and announce further programmes from there.

After the rally, workers brought out a procession that passed through Nimtala intersection before returning to the port building, where the programme ended.

Ibrahim Khokon, another coordinator, said workers had repeatedly urged the government to hold talks before signing. “The government did not listen to us and signed the agreement unilaterally.

This day will remain a black day in the history of the port,” he said. He added that 8 October would be observed as a Black Day every year and that tougher programmes would follow if no dialogue is offered.

Kazi Sheikh Nurullah Bahar, divisional general secretary of the Jatiyatabadi Sramik Dal, said the protest was not against the government.

“This is not a movement against the government. It is a movement to free the government from those who are misleading it,” he said, adding that port workers and employees would not accept the agreement.

The agreement was signed around 3pm at the Invest Bangladesh auditorium in Dhaka. Shipping Minister Sheikh Robiul Alam, Invest Bangladesh Chairman Ashiq Chowdhury and the chairman of DP World’s board were present.

It followed weeks of opposition from port workers and several labour and civic organisations, which have demanded the government scrap the plan. On 1 October, the Cabinet Committee on Government Purchase approved the draft concession agreement.

The government says an international operator will help modernise NCT, improve cargo-handling efficiency and attract investment, with the CPA retaining ownership of the terminal and its assets.

Opponents have questioned the need to hand operations of the country’s busiest container terminal to a foreign firm and demanded greater transparency and consultation with workers and other stakeholders.

Separately, the Communist Party of Bangladesh, Bangladesh Samajtantrik Dal (Basad), Ganatantrik Odhikar Committee, Bangladesh Chhatra Union and other organisations demonstrated outside the Invest Bangladesh office in Agargaon.

Organisers alleged several people were injured in a police baton-charge. Sher-e-Bangla Nagar police station Officer-in-Charge Md Monirul Islam denied police used batons, saying protesters had blocked the road and were removed to restore traffic.