Port workers urge all to join 5 Oct sit-in protest against New Mooring terminal deal
The meeting urged workers from all levels, national federations, basic unions and other labour organisations to join the daylong sit-in in front of the port headquarters on 5 October.
Leaders of various labour federations and trade unions have called for mass participation in a daylong sit-in on 5 October in front of Chattogram Port's headquarters, demanding greater transparency over plans to lease out the New Mooring Container Terminal (NCT).
The call came at an exchange meeting with leaders of national federations and basic unions at Sultan Ahmad Hall of Chattogram Press Club today (20 September).
The meeting urged workers from all levels, national federations, basic unions and other labour organisations to join the daylong sit-in in front of the port headquarters on 5 October.
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The speakers said Chattogram Port is the country's main gateway for international trade and that decisions concerning its management and future development have direct implications for the national economy and thousands of workers.
They said workers' rights and interests, along with national interests, should be given priority in any decision concerning the port.
The leaders demanded that the government publicly explain how leasing out the NCT would benefit the country.
They also called for a national dialogue with the government to assess the potential impact of the proposed lease, including the possibility of financial losses to the country.
The speakers said they wanted to draw the government's attention through peaceful demonstrations.
However, they warned that if the government viewed the peaceful sit-in and movement as a sign of weakness, they could announce tougher programmes in the future, including blockades and hartals with public participation.
The meeting was organised by the Chattogram Port Protection Committee to mobilise support for the sit-in.
Engineer Delwar Majumder, convener of the Chattogram Port Protection Committee, chaired the meeting, while its member secretary Fazlul Kabir Mintu moderated it.
Tapan Dutta, president of the Chattogram district committee of the Trade Union Centre (TUC); Kazi Sheikh Nurullah Bahar, general secretary of the Chattogram divisional committee of the Jatiyatabadi Sramik Dal and former general secretary of the port CBA; SK Khoda Toton, president of the Bangladesh Sramik Federation; and SM Jamal Uddin, organising secretary of the Jatiyatabadi Sramik Dal, among others, spoke at the meeting.
Other speakers included Iftekhar Kamal Khan, joint secretary of the TUC Chattogram district committee; Mohammad Harun, president of the Jatiyatabadi Dock Sramik Dal; Taslim Hossain Selim, its general secretary; Abdul Baten, senior joint secretary of the Jatiyatabadi Sramik Dal Chattogram divisional committee; and Ibrahim Faraji, its joint secretary.
Leaders of the Bangladesh Federation of Trade Unions (BFTUC), Bangladesh Labour Federation, Port Winch Crane Operators Association, private healthcare workers' union, community centre workers' union, Chattogram Youth Trade Union Network and Socialist Workers Front also attended the meeting.
