United News of Bangladesh

Operations at the country’s largest seaport, Chattogram Port, came to a standstill again on Sunday as workers and employees resumed an indefinite strike after suspending their action for two days, disrupting cargo handling and deliveries. The shutdown extended beyond port yards to the outer anchorage, further affecting loading, unloading and the movement of goods, according to port officials and worker representatives. The Chattogram Port Protection Movement Council resumed the strike as it is pressing four demands, including the cancellation of a decision to hand over management of the New Mooring Container Terminal to UAE-based logistics firm DP World. Earlier, council’s coordinator Humayun Kabir claimed in a video message that Port Chairman SM Moniruzzaman had been removed and urged workers to continue the protest. Subsequent quires, however, confirmed that the chairman remains in office. Port operations were halted from 8:00am, with all cargo and container handling at multiple jetties suspended and deliveries brought to a halt, officials said. The renewed indefinite strike was announced at a press conference at the Chattogram Press Club on Saturday afternoon. Port workers announce fresh strike at Chattogram Port from Sunday The Chattogram Workers Employees Unity Council later declared its solidarity with the programme. Meanwhile, Port Chairman Rear Admiral SM Moniruzzaman told a press conference outside the port building around 12:15pm on Sunday that port operations were continuing, despite the ongoing strike. Chattogram Port handles the bulk of Bangladesh’s international trade and repeated disruptions risk delaying shipments and raising logistics costs for exporters and importers.