Dock Lease Sparks Controversy: Chittagong Workers Launch Hunger Strike Protest

Last Saturday, hundreds of Chittagong workers staged a large-scale hunger strike to protest the interim government’s plan to lease the New Mooring Container Terminal (NCT) at Chittagong—Bangladesh’s main commercial port—to UAE-based global operator DP World.

Organized by SKOP, a joint body of multiple trade unions, the protest lasted from 9 AM to 4 PM. It coincided with the eve of the national election in February next year, amid an increasingly tense political atmosphere.

The core of the controversy lies in the ownership of the NCT’s operational rights. Workers pointed out that the terminal is a key facility in Chittagong—Bangladesh’s most important trade gateway—built with local resources and advanced technology. It is also currently the "most efficient and profitable terminal" in the country. As the world’s second-largest garment exporter, Bangladesh relies on Chittagong for over 90% of its maritime trade, including almost all container operations.

At the rally, Kazi Sheikh Nurullah Bahar, another SKOP leader and former Secretary-General of the Port Authority, called on the government to protect rather than lease or sell important public assets. He demanded the interim government revoke the current decision and ensure a free and fair transfer of power in the upcoming election.

Despite police restrictions on the rally, workers firmly voiced their demands and warned that if the government does not withdraw the lease plan, they will escalate the protest into a national strike and port blockade. "The hunger strike is just the first step," Hossain emphasized. "If the decision is not revoked, we will launch a full-scale strike and halt port operations."

The Bangladesh Ocean-going Shipowners Association (BOGSOA) also questioned the plan. Its chairman, Azam J. Chowdhury, previously stated that outsourcing a terminal developed and successfully operated by the country for 40 years is "illogical."