Container transport at Ctg Port halted as drivers on 12-hr strike

Container loading and unloading along with container transport to and from Chattogram Port remained suspended from 6:00am today as prime movers' drivers and workers enforced a 12-hour work abstention, protesting the alleged police assault of their union president and two colleagues.

Md Omar Faruk, secretary of Chittagong Port Authority (CPA), confirmed that container handling at all 12 container jetties had been halted, as workers engaged by berth operators refused to work.

These workers are responsible for transporting containers between vessels' hook points and port yards.

However, lorries were still entering the port to collect goods unstuffed from containers.

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Workers’ protest disrupts container transport at Ctg port

Meanwhile, the movement of export, import, and empty containers between the port and 21 private inland container depots (ICDs) has also remained suspended since morning, said Md Ruhul Amin Sikder, secretary general of the Bangladesh Inland Container Depots Association (BICDA).

The strike was announced last night at a protest gathering in front of the union office in Chattogram's Saltgola Crossing by the Chattogram District Prime Mover, Trailer, Concrete Mixer, Flatbed, Drum Truck Workers' Union, said its Executive President Humayun Kabir.

The protest was called last night in front of the union office in the Chattogram's Saltgola Crossing by the District Prime Mover, Trailer, Concrete Mixer, Flatbed, Drum Truck Workers' Union, said its Executive President Humayun Kabir.

Humayun alleged that on Tuesday night, police took Union President Selim Khan, and two drivers—Delwar Hossain and Mohammad Faisal—to Pahartali Police Station and "assaulted" them.

The three were reportedly trying to resolve an incident involving the police seizure of a driver's identity card and driving licence. Police seized the ID card and driving licence of the driver after he declined to transport an injured person to hospital upon their request.

Humayun claimed that Sub-Inspector Al Amin of the police station attempted to compel a prime mover driver, Md Liton, to take an injured man to Chittagong Medical College Hospital from in Alangkar area around 10:30pm on Tuesday. When the driver refused, the officer allegedly confiscated his documents and left for the near Alangkar police outpost.

Liton notified the union president, who then went to the outpost.

"Selim requested the officer speak to him over the phone, but the SI refused. When Selim arrived in person, an altercation ensued. He and two other workers were later taken to the police station, where they were allegedly beaten under orders from the officer-in-charge," Humayun claimed.

The three injured men were later rescue by fellow workers and taken to the hospital.

Humayun said that although workers were enraged and initially attempted to block operations yesterday morning, the union leaders calmed them considering chief adviser's scheduled visit to Chattogram.

This correspondent attempted to contact the officer-in-charge of the police Station but received no response.

Speaking to The Daily Star, SI Al Amin confirmed he had responded to an emergency call about a "mob beating" and asked Liton to transport the injured man to hospital.

"He said he was a prime mover driver and refused. We took his documents for verification but had to leave to attend to another emergency," the officer said.

He admitted declining to speak with the union leader on the phone, citing other duties.

The SI also alleged that the union leader and several workers arrived at the outpost, engaged in a heated argument, and threatened to block the highway.

"The officer-in-charge later intervened while passing through the area and brought them to the station for discussion," he said.

Asked whether the three were assaulted at the police station, SI Amin said he had no knowledge of that, as he had remained at the police outpost overnight.