Brief Respite at Chattogram Port as Strike is Suspended for 48 Hours

05 Fév Brief Respite at Chattogram Port as Strike is Suspended for 48 Hours

CHATTOGRAM – Following a week of severe industrial action that paralyzed Bangladesh’s primary trade gateway, labor leaders at Chattogram Port have announced a two-day suspension of their strike. The decision came Thursday evening after an emergency meeting with Shipping Adviser Brig Gen (retd) M Sakhawat Hossain.

Principaux développements :

• Resumption of Work: Operations are expected to restart Friday morning, providing a critical window to clear the backlog of over 11,000 export-laden containers.
• The Compromise: The suspension was granted to allow the government 48 hours to deliberate on the workers’ primary demand: the cancellation of the New Mooring Container Terminal (NCT) lease to DP World.
• Ultimatum: Labor leaders have warned that if a favorable decision is not reached regarding the NCT agreement, the strike will resume in full force on Sunday.

While the 48-hour pause offers temporary relief to the Ready-Made Garment (RMG) sector and shipping lines—who have been losing an average of $15,000 per vessel daily—businesses remain on edge. The “Bandar Rokkha Sangram Oikya Parishad” (Port Protection Action Council) emphasized that the strike was paused out of respect for the upcoming holy month of Ramadan, but their stance against foreign operators remains “non-negotiable.”