Ctg Port workers to launch  greater movement 

CHATTOGRAM ,Oct 3: The workers of the Chattogram Port, political and social workers of the port city decided to wage greater movement after government decision of leasing the New Mooring Container Terminal (NCT) and its Overflow Container Yard (OCY), and the Chattogram Container Terminal (CCT).

A platform styled, Chattogram Port Protection Committee has demanded cancellation of the proposed 15-year concession process for operating and maintainance of those terminals.

The committee in a press conference on Saturday announced a daylong sit-in at Chattogram port's main gate on 5 October to press home the demands.

Fazlul Kabir Mintu, member secretary of the committee, said the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs, at its Thursday meeting, gave in-principle approval to a draft 15-year concession agreement with an international operator for NCT and OCY.

He questioned why the strategically important infrastructure proposal was placed under the meeting's miscellaneous agenda.

Tapan Dutta, president of the Chattogram district committee of the Trade Union Centre (TUC), said the port was a national asset directly linked to foreign trade, imports and exports, revenue, industry, businesses and employment.

"Long-term decisions on managing strategic national infrastructure cannot be based solely on immediate commercial benefits," he said.

He also advocated for giving state interests, national security, revenue, employment and workers' rights at the highest consideration.

Kazi Sheikh Nurullah Bahar, General Secretary of the Chattogram divisional committee of the Bangladesh Jatiyatabadi Sramik Dal, said the government should explain the need for long-term concessions for NCT and CCT amid challenges involving economic reconstruction, employment, industrial development, investment and productivity.

The committee has sought a meeting with the prime minister and proposed a national dialogue, Bahar said, stressing that public opinion and stakeholders' views should be considered before any decision.

Taslim Hossain Selim, General Secretary of the Jatiyatabadi Dock Sramik Dal, announced the 5 October sit-in, saying broader movement programmes would be announced if the government did not clearly cancel the NCT and CCT leasing initiatives by then.

The committee said decisions on Chattogram port's operation and management would affect the country's economy, trade, revenue, employment and national interests, and urged the government to consider public opinion, workers' interests and long-term economic and strategic interests before deciding on NCT and CCT.