DWAIPAYAN BARUA and REFAYET ULLAH MIRDHA

Chattogram Port has ground to a halt in the last two days as workers and employees went on an indefinite work abstention over the government’s move to lease the key New Mooring Container Terminal (NCT) to Dubai-based DP World.

If the stalemate continues for long, commodity prices are likely to spike ahead of Ramadan and export deadlines will be missed, said insiders.

“This complete shutdown is absolutely unprecedented,” said Fazley Ekram Chowdhury, president of the Berth Operators, Ship-Handling Operators and Terminal Operators Owners Association.

The indefinite strike comes after the protesters observed an eight-hour strike from Saturday to Monday.

The strike took a stricter turn yesterday, leaving the port’s jetties and yards deserted, with no movement of people or vehicles and all sheds and offices remaining closed.

The usual long queues of cargo-carrying vehicles in and around all the port gates were absent. Both sides of the gates remained closed.

Container handling at the port’s main jetties has remained completely stopped since Tuesday morning, leaving 11 vessels, including eight container ships, stranded.

No vessel could leave the port’s main jetties or take berths in the last two days. Only four vessels could leave RSGT Chittagong, KAFCO jetty and two dolphin jetties under special arrangements.

Global leading shipping line Maersk

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