CHATTOGRAM, Feb 4: The operational activities of the country's prime sea port have completely come to a halt for indefinite strike of the port workers affecting the maritime trade badly.
The workers and the employees of the Chattogram Port had earlier an indefinite strike demanding scrapping of a deal to lease out of a key terminal, New Mooring Container Terminal (NCT), to UAE-based DP World.
All operations, including loading, unloading of cargo and cargo delivery from the yards, vessel movement to and from the port, remained completely suspended during this period.
The indefinite strike call had been given on Monday. Chattogram Bandar Rokkha Sangram Parishad had been observing 8-hour work abstention everyday since Saturday last. But on Tuesday they announced the indefinite strike till the cancellation of the deal for NCT lease out to DP World.
The strike has been intensified from Wednesday affecting the all types of Port operations that had left the port's jetties and yards deserted with no movement of people or vehicles and all sheds and offices closed.
As usual on Wednesday, six vessels were scheduled to depart and eight others set to arrive from the outer anchorage during the morning tide. But there was no movement of vessels on Wednesday.
Md Ruhul Amin Sikder, secretary general of Bangladesh Inland Container Depots Association (BICDA), said that the import, export, and empty containers could not be transported between the port and the 19 private inland container depots (ICD) since Tuesday morning. The delivery points at the port yards remained deserted with no workers and employees in attendance.
The port yards and the ICDs are already experiencing a pileup of import and export containers.
Fazley Ekram Chowdhury, president of the Berth Operators, Ship-Handling Operators, and Terminal Operators Owners Association termed the situation as unprecedented in the history of the port.
He also said that the complete shutdown in port operations is badly affecting the maritime trade hitting hard the country's economy.
Meanwhile, Chattogram Bandar Rokkha Sangram Parishad Coordinator Md Humayun Kabir said senior government officials are currently trying to complete the deal signing in a speedy manner, in violation of the Supreme Court's latest directive.
Talking to the journalists on Wednesday, Kabir mentioned that the Supreme Court judge gave an observation on Tuesday that the government cannot proceed with signing the contract until the filing of an appeal petition against the High Court verdict on this issue.
"But, last night, senior officials, including the Chief Adviser's Special Envoy for International Affairs Lutfey Siddiqi, BIDA Chairman Ashik Chowdhury, and National Security Adviser Khalilur Rahman and Port Chairman S M Moniruzzaman, forcefully took signatures of port officials who are members of the contract negotiation committee, keeping them confined in the PPA office," he alleged.
Humayun Kabir further alleged that the CPA Chairman S M Moniruzzaman was holding the CPA Board meeting in the PPA office in Dhaka on Wednesday.
"In such a situation, we have no alternative but to continue with the movement," said Humayun Kabir. He also vowed to continue strike until the government cancels the deal signing procedure.
Ships were seen lying idle at jetties, while gantry cranes and other handling equipment remained stopped. Several jetties stood empty as no new vessels berthed due to the work stoppage. As a result, the number of ships waiting at the outer anchorage has risen to 96, according to port sources.
With cargo delivery remained suspended for the last 24 hours, thousands of heavy vehicles have been stranded both inside and outside the port area. Authorities have stopped allowing new vehicles to enter to prevent further congestion.
Thousands of trucks carrying import cargo for delivery and export consignments for shipment have been caught in the disruption.
The disruption has also raised concerns over the supply of essential commodities ahead of Ramadan, as many containers carrying consumer goods remain stuck at the port, heightening the risk of shortages and price hikes in the market.
Business leaders and economists have warned that the unprecedented standoff could deepen further and trigger a serious strain on the national economy, as both the port authority and labour organisations remain rigid in their opposing positions over the NCT issue.
Claiming that workers and employees are participating in the strike spontaneously, coordinators of the Chattogram Port Rokkha Sangram Oikya Parishad alleged that port officials were confined at the Bangladesh Investment Development Authority office in Dhaka and pressured to sign the contract.
