Container transport to and from Chittagong Port resumed on Thursday evening, after a three-day disruption, as drivers of container-carrying vehicles ended their strike following successful negotiations with law enforcement officials.
The work stoppage, which had been in place since Tuesday night, came to an end at 8:00 PM after a two-and-a-half-hour meeting between drivers and law enforcement at the office of the Deputy Commissioner (Port) of the Chattogram Metropolitan Police. CMP Deputy Commissioner Badrul Alam Molla confirmed the resumption of work.
The strike began after a clash between prime mover drivers and security guards at the Chattogram DC Park, located next to the Port Toll Road in Fouzderhat, Sitakunda. This confrontation led to a suspension of container transport between Chittagong Port and 21 private inland container depots (ICDs) in the surrounding areas.
As a result, over 300 TEUs of export containers were left stranded, and two vessels set sail today, despite being delayed due to the halted container transport.
Md Selim Khan, president of the Chattogram District Prime Mover Trailer Workers Union, stated that the administration had agreed to temporarily close the DC Park and take measures to create an alternative route for visitors. This would prevent the ongoing traffic congestion caused by park visitors, which often causes severe gridlock on the busy Port Toll Road.
The dispute had begun when security guards at the park reportedly assaulted a prime mover driver for not slowing down in time when a private car was exiting the park.
Though the workers initially ended their strike at 6:00 AM Thursday after a meeting with Chattogram Deputy Commissioner Farida Khanam, they resumed it later that morning when the park was opened, contrary to previous assurances of its temporary closure.
