CHITTAGONG. Mar 2: Protests continued here against the installation of a proposed private container terminal al Palenga by an American company. Stevedoring Services of America (SSA). Several thousand dock workers today staged demonstration and held a rally on Chiitagong Port premises protesting the move for construction of container terminal by SSA.

The dock workers led by the leaders of 22 irade union bodies yesterday staged demonstration on port premises demanding withdrawal of the decision to set up a private container ter mlnal at the estuary of the River Karnaphuli by the American firm

Port sources said the two-day meeting at the port and the Shipping Ministry that ended

today, for reviewing matters relating to draft agreement, had triggered the agitation here by the dock workers backed by 22 trade union bodies.

The leaders of 22 trade union bodies threatened to halt the activities of Chittagong port for an indefinite period if any agreement is signed for installation of the terminal.

The leaders of 22 trade union bodies who addressed the rally included Mahfuzur Rahman Khan, president of Chittagong Port CBA. Kazi Hablbur Rahman. acting general secretary of CBA and Wahid Ullah Sarkar president of Port Jatiyatabadi Sramik Dal Employees Union.

The leaders announced to stage demonstration and hold a protest rally on Chittagong port premises on Sunday.

Meanwhile, the Mayor of

Chittagong City Corporation Mohiuddin Chowdhury announced to launch a movement with the people of Chittagong to resist any move for signing agreement with SSA for construction of the private termi-

He made this announcement while exchanging views with the representatives of Chittagong port development forum yesterday.

UNB adds: Ruling out the speculation of a final deal with the US company before Clinton's visit. .Slate Minister for Shipping Mofazzal Hossain Chowdhury Maya told the agency today that it would take time as they are in the process of examining the pros and cons of the proposal.

We aren't going to take any step which may go against the

interest of the people including port workers, he said, when asked about the tension that gripped the port city following the government move to finalise the deal.

Shipping Ministry is busy scrutinising the proposal sub-fnitted by a US company two years ago to construct a private container terminal al the Kar naphuli estuary.

Officials of the Shipping Ministry and the Chittagong Port Authority continued parley for the second straight day today to examine the proposal that already sparked off a strong opposition from port labour unions.

A ministry official said the meeting might continue till March 5 for a final assessment of the proposal.