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The Chattogram Port Protection Committee has called for a national-level dialogue with the government on the potential benefits and risks of leasing out the New Mooring Container Terminal (NCT) at Chattogram Port.
The committee made the call at an exchange meeting held at Chattogram Press Club at 11am on Sunday.
The meeting was organised with national federations and basic trade unions to mobilise support for a daylong sit-in planned in front of the port building on October 5.
Chaired by committee convener engineer Delwar Majumder and moderated by its member-secretary Fazlul Kabir Mintu, speakers said the government should clearly explain to the public what benefits the country would gain and what potential losses could result from leasing out the NCT.
They also called for a national dialogue involving relevant stakeholders before any decision is taken.
The speakers said Chattogram Port is the country’s main hub for import and export trade, with the national economy and the interests of a large number of workers directly linked to its operations.
They said national interests, as well as workers’ rights and interests, should be given priority in decisions concerning the port’s management and future development.
The meeting urged leaders and activists of national federations, basic unions and various labour organisations to join the daylong sit-in in front of the port building on October 5.
The organisers said they wanted to draw the government’s attention through peaceful programmes but warned that further programmes could be announced if their demands were not addressed. Participants also discussed the possibility of tougher programmes, including blockades and strikes.
Among those who spoke at the meeting were TUC Chattogram district president Tapan Dutta, Nationalist Labour Party Chattogram divisional general secretary and former Chattogram Port CBA general secretary Kazi Sheikh Nurullah Bahar, Bangladesh Labour Federation president SK Khoda Toton, Nationalist Labour Party organising secretary SHM Jamal Uddin, TUC Chattogram district joint secretary Iftekhar Kamal Khan, Nationalist Dock Workers Party president Md Harun and general secretary Taslim Hossain Selim, and Nationalist Labour Party Chattogram divisional senior joint secretary Abdul Baten.