Chattagram Port Row, Workers Stage Mass Hunger Strike Demanding Cancellation of NCT Lease to DP World.

Jahangir Alam, ​Staff Reporter ​ The chattagram Port area erupted in intense protests today as port workers and employees took to the streets, chanting reverberating slogans against the leasing of the New Mooring Container Terminal (NCT) to the UAE-based port operator DP World. ​Under the banner of the 'chattagram Port Protection Struggle Council,' workers gathered in front of the port's One-Stop Service building on Monday (October 12) at 11:30 AM to begin a mass hunger strike. The demonstrators voiced deep concerns over the 15-year concession agreement and demanded firm guarantees regarding job security and their fundamental rights. ​Anger and Slogans on the Streets ​The hunger strike continued until 4:00 PM as announced. Jointly led by the Chittagong Port Jatiyatabadi Sramik Dal and the chattagram Port Protection Struggle Council, workers and employees from all sectors joined the protest. The air rang out with fiery slogans including "My port, my mother we will not hand it to foreigners," "Go back, DP World," and "We reject the contract to sell off our port." ​Speaking during the strike, Md. Humayun Kabir and Ibrahim Khokon, joint conveners of the Struggle Council, stated: "On October 8, the day the contract was signed, we held a protest rally and gave the government a two-day ultimatum for talks. Unfortunately, the government took no positive initiative for dialogue. Left with no choice, we are observing this peaceful mass hunger strike today." ​Background and Lease Agreement ​On October 8, a 15-year concession agreement was signed with UAE-based operator DP World at the 'Invest Bangladesh' auditorium in Agargaon, Dhaka, granting them operational control over the NCT. Since the signing, protests have intensified across the port city, with labor leaders demanding the preservation of Chittagong Port's autonomy and the protection of local employment. ​Protest leaders warned that if the government fails to reverse its decision to hand over control of the country's prime seaport to a foreign entity and neglects the job security and rights of port workers, tougher and more comprehensive movement programs will be announced in the coming days.