Sramik Dal sits-in protest against NCT handover to foreign operator

The Chattogram Port unit of the Jatiyatabadi Sramik Dal staged a sit-in in Chattogram today, protesting the government's move to hand over the New Mooring Container Terminal (NCT) of Chattogram Port to a foreign company.

The protest began at 10:00am in front of the main gate of the Chattogram Port Building and continued until 12:00pm.

During the demonstration, the protesters held placards with slogans such as "Cancel the NCT privatisation decision", "We don't want tenants to run the port", and "Local operators are enough, not foreigners".

According to the port authority's annual report, the terminal is currently operated by local operators and is profitable. There are ongoing discussions at the government level to hand over the terminal to the UAE-based company DP World under a long-term government-to-government (G2G) agreement.

Mojaher Hossain Shawkat, joint secretary of the Chattogram Port Workers' Wing (former CBA), addressed the rally at the beginning of the protest.

He said, "If NCT is handed over to foreign entities, it will harm national interests, the future of workers, and the port authority. Built with our own funds and equipped with modern machinery, the terminal is currently operating successfully with local operators. If handed to foreigners, we will be deprived of our own assets."

Md Humayun Kabir, publicity affairs secretary of the Sramik Dal's Chattogram Port unit, said, "The port authority and the government are making this decision unilaterally. Workers' opinions were not taken into account. No public hearing or opinion poll was conducted, even though this concerns national interest."

Joint Secretary Sanowar Mia said, "This terminal is now known as a revenue-generating unit. It has modern equipment and is operated by skilled local workers. So, who benefits really from bringing in foreign operators?'

The workers' wing said that such a decision is unethical. If their demands are not met, they warned of more intense programs, including port blockades, strikes, and divisional rallies.