Container transport to and from Ctg port resumes

Container transport to and from Chattogram port resumed after 12 hours today as workers of prime mover-trailers postponed their work abstention till tomorrow.

The workers went on a work abstention programme from 6:00am today morning, demanding appointment letters and protesting job cuts of fellow workers from a private company.

Transport of export containers from 18 private inland container depots (ICDs) to the port also remained halted due to the strike for most of the day.

Md Abu Bakkar Siddiquee, general secretary of Chattogram Prime Mover-Trailer Sramik Union, said they postponed their work abstention till tomorrow as police administration assured them of arranging a meeting with the concerned authorities tomorrow morning to settle the issue.

He said 18 private ICDs, as well as the berth operators of the port, have not issued appointment letters to the workers even after signing agreements with the union six months ago.

Moreover, a private transport company named MNM Transport Agency located at Fouzderhat forcefully fired 36 prime mover workers in the last few weeks, he said, adding that they announced the work abstention protesting such job cuts and demanding appointment letters.

Movement of these heavy vehicles between the ICDs and port and from the port to different destinations of the country remained suspended since 6:00 am, he told our Chattogram staff correspondent.

Contacted, Md Omar Faruk, secretary of Chattogram Port Authority, admitted that export container transport from the ICDs to the port as well as delivery of import laden containers from the port have been stopped due to the work abstention.

He, however, said loading and unloading of containers to and from the vessels at the port jetties were going on normally.