Sramik Karmachari Oikya Parishad, a platform of 12 labour organisations, on Saturday announced the blockade of Chattogram port for November 26, demanding the cancellation of the recent decisions to lease out several port facilities to foreign companies.
The announcement was made at a daylong Chattogram Divisional Trade Union Convention held at Chattogram Press Club organised by the labour platform.
Bangladesh Jatiotabadi Sramik Dal Chattogram divisional general secretary Kazi Sheikh Nurullah Bahar declared the blockade programme from the convention.
On November 17, the government signed a 33-year agreement, extendable by 15 years, with Denmark-based APM Terminals to build and operate a terminal at Laldia Char.
On the same day, a 22-year operational agreement for the Pangaon Inland Container Terminal of Chattogram Port Authority at Keraniganj in Dhaka was signed with a Swiss company.
At the convention, Kazi Sheikh Nurullah Bahar said, 鈥楾he judges of the High Court have clearly prohibited any further steps regarding the New Mooring Container Terminal.鈥�
But the authorities were flouting the High Court instructions, he said, 鈥榳e have heard that meetings have been called in Dhaka on November 25, 26 and 27 to make an agreement with DP World about the NCT. We also heard that vetting will be done on 26 and the agreement will be signed on 27.鈥�
鈥榃e, the leaders of Chattogram sat together and decided that on November 26, from 10:00am to 1:00pm, there will be a complete blockade at the three entry points of Chattogram port: Agrabad, Boropool and Mailer Matha area in city,鈥� Nurullah Bahar stated, calling on all workers and employees to come out on the streets and blockade the port.
Speaking as chief guest, Labour Reform Commission chairman Syed Sultan Uddin Ahmed said that the issues surrounding the leasing of Chattogram port, privatisation of jute mills, closure of state-run industries and workers鈥� rights issues must be addressed through a broader national declaration.
鈥業 call on everyone to sit together in Dhaka after the blockade programme on November 26,鈥� he said, calling on the business community join the meeting.
鈥榃e have to continue our movement. All labour organisations must unite under one umbrella,鈥� the labour reform commission chair said.
SKOP also announced district-level protest programmes to press home its nine-point demand concerning the protection of the port and workers鈥� rights.
The convention, chaired by Nurullah Bahar, was addressed, among others, by SKOP joint coordinator Abdul Kader Hawlader, Jatiotabadi Sramik Dal president Anowar Hossain, Jatiyo Sramik Jote president Saifuzzaman Badsha, and general secretary Mezbah Uddin Ahmed.