A section of staffers and workers at the Chattogram port today staged a demonstration in front of the shipping adviser, Brig Gen Sakhawat Hussain, protesting the government's move to appoint foreign operators in the port's largest terminal, New Mooring Container Terminal (NCT).

The workers, along with leaders and activists of Chattogram port unit of Jatiyatabadi Sramik Dal, blocked the vehicle carrying the adviser when he was entering the customs auction shed in the port around 11:00am.

They chanted slogans against the government's move of handing over the NCT operation to a UAE firm, DP World.

Adviser Sakhawat responded by assuring the leaders that they will be included in further discussions on the matter, after which the demonstrators let him go.

Then, the shipping adviser went to the port to inspect the progress of the Chattogram customs auction activities.

Before his arrival, more than 50 activists of the Sramik Dal, an associate body of the BNP, brought out a procession and formed a human chain in front of the auction shed.