Chattogram Port Comes to a Standstill Amid Indefinite Workers’ Strik

Chattogram Port, Bangladesh’s principal seaport and economic lifeline, has come to a complete standstill following an indefinite strike by workers and employees, severely disrupting the country’s import and export activities.
At least 11 cargo vessels carrying imported goods are currently stranded at jetties, with cranes lying idle and all loading and unloading operations suspended. Delivery of cleared goods from the port has also stopped, while export consignments are unable to reach the port. Normally bustling terminals—including the New Mooring Container Terminal (NCT), General Cargo Berth (GCB), and Chittagong Container Terminal (CCT)—are now eerily silent.
The ongoing strike, which began as an eight-hour work stoppage for the first three days, escalated into a 24-hour shutdown on Tuesday before turning into an indefinite strike. Protesters have also halted vessel movement at the jetties, preventing ships from entering or leaving the port for the second consecutive day. As a result, congestion is building up at the outer anchorage.
The workers initially launched the protest under the banner of the Nationalist Labour Party and its former Collective Bargaining Agent (CBA), demanding the cancellation of plans to lease the New Mooring Container Terminal to UAE-based company DP World. The movement is now being carried out under the “Port Protection Struggle Committee.”
Speaking at a press briefing on Tuesday, committee coordinator Ibrahim Khokon said the strike would continue until the government withdraws from the agreement process with DP World. Another coordinator, Humayun Kabir, claimed that with the support of workers across all levels, no operational activities are currently taking place anywhere in the port. He also alleged that the government has not yet proposed any dialogue.
According to port-related depot owners’ association BICDA, the disruption has left nearly 11,000 export containers stranded across 19 private depots. At the same time, import and empty containers remain stuck at the port and on vessels due to the suspension of transport services.
Business leaders have expressed deep concern over the prolonged shutdown. Former director of the Chattogram Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Mahfuzul Haque Shah, warned that continued closure of the port could cause severe economic losses and damage Bangladesh’s international reputation. He noted that large quantities of raw materials for garment and other industries remain stuck at the port, hampering production and threatening export commitments.
Exporters are reportedly facing pressure from foreign buyers to shift to air shipments, which would significantly increase costs. Meanwhile, around 25–30 percent of essential commodities intended for Ramadan consumption remain on ships awaiting unloading, raising fears of potential supply shortages and price manipulation.
Port users and business representatives have urged the government to resolve the crisis through immediate dialogue. Representatives from BGMEA, BKMEA, BEPZA, the C&F Agents Association, and other organizations attended an emergency meeting in Chattogram, where they stressed the urgent need for negotiations.
M.A. Salam, Managing Director of Asian Apparels Limited, said the indefinite strike is harming both businesses and workers, especially daily wage earners. He warned that the complete suspension of vessel movement is drawing international attention and could tarnish Bangladesh’s reputation in global trade.
Stakeholders emphasized that negotiations remain the only viable solution and called on the government to initiate discussions without delay to restore operations at the country’s busiest seaport.