UNB, Cgattogram:: Workers and employees at Chattogram Port blocked the convoy of Shipping Adviser (retd) Brigadier General M Sakhawat Hossain on Thursday when he reached there to assess the situation amid an ongoing strike.
The strike continued for the 5th consecutive day on Thursday protesting the plans to lease out the New Mooring Container Terminal (NCT) to global port operator DP World.
As his convoy arrived in front of the port building around 10:45 am, hundreds of workers and employees surrounded the vehicles, chanted slogans and obstructed their movement.
After about 15 minutes, police and port security personnel escorted the convoy into the port premises.
The Shipping Adviser later entered the port building amid continued slogan by the protesters and was quickly taken to an upper floor by lift.
The indefinite strike enforced by the Chattogram Port Protection Movement Council, has brought all operational activities at the port to a halt.
Container handling at all jetties, including General Cargo Berth (GCB), Chattogram Container Terminal (CCT) and New Mooring Container Terminal (NCT) remains suspended.
Cargo-laden vessels are stranded at both the outer anchorage and jetties while cargo delivery from yards and the movement of goods-carrying vehicles in and out of the port have also remained stopped.
The Shipping Adviser flew from Dhaka to Shah Amanat International Airport on Thursday morning and went straight to the port.
Chittagong Port Authority Chairman Rear Admiral Moniruzzaman was accompanying him.
Port sources said after entering the port building, the Shipping Adviser sat in an emergency meeting to discuss the ongoing strike and the overall deadlock situation with the stakeholders.
The workers began the indefinite strike on Wednesday demanding the cancellation of the process to lease out the New Mooring Container Terminal to foreign firm DP World and the withdrawal of alleged harassment and transfer orders against protesting workers.
Earlier, following a three-day strike, the Ministry of Shipping issued transfer orders for at least 15 port officials to Mongla and Payra ports.
In protest, the movement council first announced a 24-hour work stoppage and later intensified it into an indefinite strike.
