Hunger strike continues at Chittagong Port over NCT lease deal

A hunger strike continued at Chittagong Port on Monday, demanding the cancellation of a long-term lease agreement for the New Mooring Container Terminal (NCT) with Dubai-based DP World.

The daylong protest began at 11:30am in front of the port’s One Stop Service building. The programme was organised by the Jatiyatabadi Sramik Dal, a BNP-affiliated labour organisation, and the Chittagong Port Protection Council.

Speakers at the hunger strike and rally demanded the cancellation of the NCT agreement and job security for dock workers and employees.

They expressed concern that the 15-year agreement with DP World, signed on October 8, could pose risks to Bangladesh’s economy and national security. They said the terminal had a record of generating consistent profits and alleged that the agreement and the lease process had been conducted without transparency, keeping the public in the dark.

The hunger strike continued with the participation of a large number of workers and employees who opposed leasing the port facility to a foreign company.

The programme is being led by Md Humayun Kabir and Ibrahim Khokon, joint conveners of the Chittagong Port Jatiyatabadi Sramik Dal and the port protection movement.

They announced the hunger strike on Thursday, the day the lease agreement was signed in Dhaka.

Police and other security personnel have been deployed at the port and surrounding areas to maintain law and order during the peaceful protest and prevent possible disturbances.