Activities at Ctg port going on peacefully
Friday, 15 October 2010
CHITTAGONG, Oct 14 (Agencies): Activities at the Chittagong Port has been going on peacefully in the presence of the army, officials said.
The government was compelled to send in the military after all other attempts to bring order at the port failed.
"The agitating workers, except a quarter, have joined work on Thursday," port secretary Farharuddin said.
Moreover, the newly appointed private berth operators have also joined work.
Unloading of cargo at six general jetties and six other container jetties began at 6:00pm, after army personnel were deployed for the port's security at about 5:30pm.
The deployment of the army personnel followed clashes between the police and dock workers, who were obstructing the newly hired private berth operators from starting work.
Earlier that, the police had imposed a ban on all processions and rallies at the port to ensure smooth operation.
Meanwhile, the police held 40 port workers since army were deployed and Section 144 was imposed in and around Chittagong Port area Wednesday.
Police said they were conducting drives to arrest those who were involved with agitation and anarchy in the last six days in the port before imposition of Sect 144 on Wednesday afternoon.
Port thana OC Rezaul Karim said they held 11 more port workers Wednesday late night while the rest 29 were held yesterday afternoon in separate drives.
A case was fled against 29 workers on charges of creating anarchy, obstructing police on duty, damaging government properties and flouting Sect 144 imposed in the afternoon at seaport and in its adjacent area.
Another case was being filed against 11 other arrestees, he added.
With this a total of 40 workers have been held, he added.
Another report adds, A parliamentary watchdog has welcomed army deployment in Chittagong Port and blamed the preceding military-backed interim government for the impasse there.
The parliamentary standing committee on shipping ministry at its meeting Thursday said the agitating workers would not be able to realise their demands by resorting to vandalism.
"The situation there has become normal and the committee welcomes army deployment," Noor-e-Alam Chowdhury, the committee chairman, told reporters at the parliament's media centre.
He said the army-led interim government abolished the dock management board and retrenched workers.
"These decisions caused labour unrests. It's the preceding administration that is to blame," said Chowdhury.
The chairman said some "vested" quarters may have been behind the labour trouble that ensued soon after appointment of private berth operators to make the port activities smooth.
The government was compelled to send in the military after all other attempts to bring order at the port failed.
"The agitating workers, except a quarter, have joined work on Thursday," port secretary Farharuddin said.
Moreover, the newly appointed private berth operators have also joined work.
Unloading of cargo at six general jetties and six other container jetties began at 6:00pm, after army personnel were deployed for the port's security at about 5:30pm.
The deployment of the army personnel followed clashes between the police and dock workers, who were obstructing the newly hired private berth operators from starting work.
Earlier that, the police had imposed a ban on all processions and rallies at the port to ensure smooth operation.
Meanwhile, the police held 40 port workers since army were deployed and Section 144 was imposed in and around Chittagong Port area Wednesday.
Police said they were conducting drives to arrest those who were involved with agitation and anarchy in the last six days in the port before imposition of Sect 144 on Wednesday afternoon.
Port thana OC Rezaul Karim said they held 11 more port workers Wednesday late night while the rest 29 were held yesterday afternoon in separate drives.
A case was fled against 29 workers on charges of creating anarchy, obstructing police on duty, damaging government properties and flouting Sect 144 imposed in the afternoon at seaport and in its adjacent area.
Another case was being filed against 11 other arrestees, he added.
With this a total of 40 workers have been held, he added.
Another report adds, A parliamentary watchdog has welcomed army deployment in Chittagong Port and blamed the preceding military-backed interim government for the impasse there.
The parliamentary standing committee on shipping ministry at its meeting Thursday said the agitating workers would not be able to realise their demands by resorting to vandalism.
"The situation there has become normal and the committee welcomes army deployment," Noor-e-Alam Chowdhury, the committee chairman, told reporters at the parliament's media centre.
He said the army-led interim government abolished the dock management board and retrenched workers.
"These decisions caused labour unrests. It's the preceding administration that is to blame," said Chowdhury.
The chairman said some "vested" quarters may have been behind the labour trouble that ensued soon after appointment of private berth operators to make the port activities smooth.