Private berth operators yesterday urged the government to take tough action against a section of workers' leaders who are accused of attempting to create a deadlock at Chittagong Port by disrupting operations.

Container handling by a private operator at one of the six container berths under the General Cargo Berth (GCB) has remained on hold since Friday afternoon due to resistance from dockworkers, said port officials.

At the same time, handling at the four other berths under the supervision of Chittagong Port Authority (CPA) continued at snail's pace.

CPA called a meeting with the workers yesterday, but it did not take place.

Hadi Hossain, a CPA member, told The Daily Star last night: "We asked the angry workers to get back to work first and then sit with us for a meeting. But as they did not return to work, we did not hold the meeting.”

The newly appointed private berth operators failed to begin container handling till yesterday afternoon following Friday's attacks by the dockworkers.

On Wednesday, leaders of Dock Bandar Sramik Karmachari Federation threatened to launch fresh movements if the newly appointed private operators were given work orders before fulfilling their demands.

Officials of the berth operator, Everest Enterprise, filed a general diary with Bandar Police Station on Friday

night in connection with the attacks.

Private Berth Operators Association President Fazle Ekram Chowdhury urged the government to take steps to ensure security at the port. He alleged that some worker leaders were trying to control port activities.

Shahadat Hossain Selim, proprietor of Everest Enterprise, expressed his dissatisfaction over the workers' resistance, alleging that the rioters were all outsiders who were trying to destroy the port, economy and the step to give transit to neighbouring countries.

Selim demanded tough action against the "unruly workers".

“For the sake of smooth operations at the port, the army should be deployed if necessary.”