Dock workers enforce work stoppage at port

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Our Correspondent
CHITTAGONG, Oct 8: Cargo handling in the general container berths remains suspended from this afternoon as the dock workers obstructed a private berth operator at GCB berth no 12 and forced work stoppage in the other five container berths.
The dock workers demanded employment under the port authority and forced away the employees and officials of the newly appointed berth operator Everest Enterprise, one of the six berth operating firms employed only yesterday night through tender.
Workers of the rest five container berths in the GCB area also stopped work to support the agitating workers.
The sacked dock labours swooped on the workers of the newly appointed berth operator, assaulted them and the officials, who were about to work in the vessel MV Kota Rakayet, a berth operator alleged.
The agitated workers along with the lacing and unlacing men attacked the workers of Everest Enterprise as they attended the berth 12 to offload containers from the vessel MV Kota Rakayet at 4.00 pm.
The berth operators alleged that some of their officials including traffic officer Belayet of Chittagong Port Authority were assaulted by 'the outsiders' and forced them out of the jetty.
Hectic parleys between the port officials and the dock workers leaders took place in the CPA Bhaban following suspension of container handling activities from 6.00 pm, a port official said, but to no result.
It is learnt that the director (traffic) Golam Sarwar had a meeting with the leaders that ended fruitless by 7.00 pm.
Later Captain Arif Mahmood, member (harbour and marine) of the CPA board, called them to discuss the issue. The meeting continued till 8.00 pm, he said.
Meanwhile, unloading of cargo from the vessels at the outer anchorage also remained suspended from Thursday evening due to incessant rain. More than 30 ships are waiting for offloading in the outer, radio control of the port said.