Workers from the Jatiyatabadi Sramik Dal staged a sit-in protest on Sunday in front of the Chattogram Port building. They were protesting the government’s plan to hand over the New Mooring Container Terminal (NCT) to a foreign company.
The protest started at 10:00 AM and continued until 12:00 PM. The workers held placards with slogans like “Cancel NCT privatization,” “We don’t want foreign workers,” and “Local operators are enough.”
Protesters said that if a foreign company takes over, many local workers and contractors will lose their jobs. They also fear that the port’s internal control will be weakened.
Mojaher Hossain Shawkat, a leader of the port workers, said, “This terminal was built with our own money and is being run successfully by local operators. Giving it to foreigners will harm our country and workers.”
Another leader, Humayun Kabir, said, “The government made this decision without talking to the workers or the public.”
Sanowar Miah, also a leader, added, “This terminal makes a lot of money and is run well by skilled local workers. So why do we need foreigners?”
The workers’ group said this decision by the temporary (caretaker) government is wrong and should be left to an elected government. They warned of stronger protests, including strikes and blockades, if the decision is not changed.
On the same day in Dhaka, Shafiqul Alam, the press secretary to the Prime Minister’s advisor, said at an event that the government is not handing over the port but wants foreign companies to invest and manage it. He said they have already received promises of $3 billion in investment.
The issue has sparked debate about national interests, job security, and foreign control of key infrastructure.
