Port workers demand removal of JS body members
Chittagong port workers yesterday demanded an immediate removal of the members of a parliamentary committee, accusing them of interference in port activities.
Earlier on Saturday, the port users and other stakeholders at a roundtable made similar allegations against the parliamentary committee on the shipping ministry. Shipping Minister Shajahan Khan, who was present at Saturday's meeting, had denied the allegations.
Under the banner of Dock Bandar Sramik Karmachari Federation, the labour leaders yesterday alleged that Chittagong Port Authority (CPA) could not function properly due to 'top-level' interference.
Pointing an accusing finger at the committee members, the federation's General Secretary Md Mahfuzur Rahman Khan read out a written statement at a conference at Chittagong Press Club.
Khan alleged that clauses in the tender for recruiting private berth operators for six general cargo berth areas have changed 11 times due to interference by both the parliamentary committee and the shipping ministry.
The skilled and experienced CPA officials who opposed such misdealing have been transferred, alleged the workers leaders. Such interference is delaying the commissioning of the New-Mooring Container Terminal constructed at a cost of Tk 600 crore, they added.
They also alleged the parliamentary committee is trying to award the Karnaphuli Container Terminal (KCT) construction work to a private party risking port security.
The federation leaders warned that any delay in reinstatement of the workers and ensuring facilities for them according to the decision taken on October 26, 2009 might give rise to labour unrest.
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