Strikers give two-day break for urgent export-import delivery

Protesters at Chattogram seaport gave a two-day break in their strike for urgent export-import delivery following government intervention on Thursday, after disruption of Bangladesh's external trade for six days.

Labour leaders at Chattogram Port announced the Friday-Saturday suspension of the strike following negotiations with Shipping Adviser Brig-General (retd) M Sakhawat Hossain, but vowed to resume work abstention thereafter if their demand for rescinding a deal with a foreign firm was not met.

Earlier in the day, the adviser of the interim government faced protest by workers when he visited the Bandar Bhaban at the port to assess the situation.

Chattogram Port worker leaders later agreed to hold talks with the adviser to find a resolution.

As agreed, the operational activities at the country's prime port will resume today (Friday) after long six days' disruption that triggered an outcry from trade bodies.

The announcement was made by Humayun Kabir and Ibrahim Khokon, coordinators of the Bandar Rokkha Sangram Oikya Parishad, at a press conference at the Bandar Bhaban in the afternoon.

However, the trade unionists warned that they would return to protest from Sunday if the New Mooring Container Terminal (NCT) agreement is not done away with.

Ibrahim Khokon said the labour leaders presented four demands during the meeting, including the cancellation of the NCT agreement.

The shipping adviser assured them that he would discuss the matter with the chief adviser and provide a response within two days, he added.

"Our other demands were the withdrawal of transfer orders for employees, no legal action against workers who led the movement, and removal of the port authority chairman," Khokon said.

He further said the adviser accepted two of the demands and promised to consider the issue of the chairman's removal.

Humayun Kabir said the strike was postponed out of respect for the holy month of Ramadan and based on assurances from the adviser.

"The government has two days to respond regarding the NCT agreement. If no action is taken, the strike will resume," he told reporters.

Urging port workers to remain patient, Humayun Kabir said, "NCT will not be handed over to a foreign operator under any circumstances. This agreement will be resisted at all costs."

Chattogram business leaders held a meeting with labour representatives on Wednesday afternoon, expressing moral support for the movement while urging alternative protests to limit economic losses, but labour leaders refused to call off the stoppage and reiterated their demand for cancelling the DP World lease.

Sources say now NCT is being operated by Chittagong Dry Dock Limited (CDDL), a Bangladesh Navy-run organisation, which is to continue operations until the handover to a foreign operator. However, the government has planned that NCT will be leased to DP World for 15 years. If the lease proceeds, DP World will collect all terminal charges, while negotiations continue over how much the company will pay the Chittagong Port Authority per container.

Meanwhile, leaders of the country's major trade bodies Thursday urged immediate restoration of normal functioning of Chattogram Port as the shutdown was putting a severe impact on the country's export-import trade.

Expressing deep concern, the leaders from top ten trade organisations sought immediate high-level intervention from the government to resolve the crisis facing the import-export trade.

Bangladesh Employers' Federation (BEF), Bangladesh Chamber of Industries (BCI), Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MCCI), Dhaka Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DCCI), Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA), Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BKMEA), Bangladesh Textile Mills Association (BTMA), Bangladesh Garment Accessories and Packaging Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGAPMEA), Bangladesh Garment Buying House Association (BGBA) and Bangladesh Terry Towel and Linen Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BTTLMEA) made the joint call after an emergency meeting held at BTMA's Gulshan office in the capital, Dhaka.

This happens to be the first time in the history of Chattogram Port that even shipping has completely been stopped, they said, terming it 'rare crisis' that is completely paralyzing the country's main seaport, considered heart of the national economy. The closure of the port for a single day directly caused loss of several millions of taka to the economy, they deplored, adding that the country is facing an irreparable loss as the import-export activities of all sectors, including ready-made garments, came to a standstill.

Acting president of BGMEA Selim Rahman said raw materials for the export sector were not reaching factories on time, while on the other hand, manufactured goods are lying at ports awaiting shipment.

As a result, it becomes difficult to meet the lead-time of foreign buyers, which might result in air shipment, said Fazlee Shamim Ehsan, president of BEF.

"We fear that if this situation lasts just a few more days, a portion of orders might be cancelled and foreign buyers may take drastic decisions such as shifting their sourcing from Bangladesh," he noted.

They said the country's manufacturing and export sectors were currently undergoing crisis period, adding that due to global demand decline, rising production costs and global geopolitical instability, industries are facing a catastrophe - entrepreneurs are struggling to reduce business-operating costs and survive in the competition.

In the meantime, due to the terrible container congestion caused by the port deadlock, demurrage charges, port charges and storage rent are ballooning, which is directly increasing the cost of production.

"This will increase the price of products both for export and domestic market," said Showkat Aziz Russel, president of BTMA.

If this crisis was not resolved immediately, there would be a delay in the arrival of imported daily necessities on the market, resulting in an artificial crisis that will push the prices of goods ahead of Ramadan, businesses said.

They also blamed "government failure" for the standstill at port and requested the government for resolving the ongoing issue. And the upcoming new government can take the opportunity to review the complications that have arisen over the NCT lease.

The leaders also made special request to the port's union leaders to turn back from their exceptional stance.

Dhaka Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DCCI) also urged immediate restoration of normal operations at Chattogram Port where nearly 92 per cent of the country's import and export trade is handled.

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