Written by The Banking Post
Leaders of the Sramik Karmachari Oikya Parishad (SKOP) announced a three-hour blockade of the Chittagong Port beginning at 10:00 am tomorrow, after their meeting with officials of the Chittagong Port Authority ended without resolution on Monday.
However, CPA Secretary Omar Faruk claimed the discussion was “successful,” saying labour representatives had agreed to withdraw the programme. He warned that any protest could be considered contempt of court, as the matter is currently under High Court review.
According to a SKOP statement, the meeting was called by the port authority and attended by its acting chairman, senior engineering officials and Secretary Faruk. SKOP was represented by Comrade Tapon Dutta, Kazi Sheikh Nurullah Bahar and SK Khoda Toton.
During the discussion, CPA officials explained the context behind the proposed lease of the New Mooring Container Terminal (NCT) to DP World. They said no agreement is expected this month since the port chairman is on leave and the government cannot proceed with a strategic deal once the election schedule is announced in early December. Officials insisted that there is no attempt to fast-track the contract.
SKOP leaders rejected the explanation, pointing to earlier remarks by the executive chairman of BIDA, who had said the NCT contract would be signed within a week. They argued that an interim government lacks both the moral and legal mandate to sign long-term agreements of strategic importance.
The labour leaders said they have been protesting for more than six months and the movement has now expanded to include workers nationwide, political groups and ordinary citizens. They told port officials that stepping back unilaterally is no longer possible.
