Chattogram, Feb 9 (V7N) — The Chattogram Port Protection Movement Council has announced the suspension of its strike program, effective from 8:00 am on February 9 until February 15. The decision was confirmed in a joint statement signed late Sunday night by council leaders Md. Humayun Kabir and Md. Ibrahim Khokon.

According to the statement, the decision followed assurances made by Shipping Ministry Adviser Brigadier General (retd) M Sakhawat Hossain and Bangladesh Investment Development Authority (BIDA) Chairman Ashik Chowdhury, who informed the media that no agreement regarding the leasing of the New Mooring Container Terminal (NCT) would be signed during the tenure of the current government.

The council said the strike was suspended in the interest of the upcoming national parliamentary election and the smooth clearance of essential goods ahead of Ramadan, following what it described as satisfactory discussions with the authorities.

However, the statement warned that unresolved issues remain. The council alleged that port authorities had arrested five employees, filed harassment-related cases, transferred 15 workers to other ports, imposed disciplinary actions on protesting workers, cancelled housing allocations, and temporarily suspended 16 employees. If these matters are not resolved, the council said it will announce further programs at a press conference on February 16.

The strike was originally launched on January 31 in protest against the process of leasing the New Mooring Container Terminal to DP World. From February 4, an indefinite strike led to a near-complete shutdown of port operations, severely disrupting import-export trade and other activities.

To address the crisis, Shipping Adviser Brigadier M Sakhawat Hossain visited Chattogram on February 5 and held multiple meetings with stakeholders. Following those discussions, workers initially agreed to suspend the movement for two days.

Later the same day, port authorities reportedly applied to the Anti-Corruption Commission to investigate the movable and immovable assets of 15 protesting labor leaders and requested relevant agencies to prevent them from leaving the country.

In response, the Port Protection Movement Council held a press conference at the Chattogram Press Club on February 7, where coordinator and Port Jatiyatabadi Sramik Dal leader Md. Humayun Kabir announced a fresh indefinite strike from Sunday over four demands.

As a result, port operations at jetties, terminals, container depots, and anchorage areas came to a halt from Sunday morning before the suspension was announced later that night.

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