NCT lease protest enters sixth day, more than 11,000 containers stuck in continuous strike

Staff Correspondent

Chittagong, 5th February 2026: Import and export activities have come to a complete standstill due to the continuous strike of workers and employees in protest against the government’s decision to lease the New Mooring Container Terminal (NCT) to the UAE-based foreign company DP World. The movement, which began last Saturday at the call of the Chittagong Port Protection Movement Council, turned into an indefinite continuous strike from Tuesday.

As a result, the port’s jetties, terminals, yards and sheds have fallen into a state of eerie silence. All mechanical activities, including gantry cranes and forklifts, have been shut down. Loading and unloading of goods from ships, unloading of containers and transport between the port and private ICDs (inland container depots) have all come to a standstill.

Today, Thursday (February 5), is the sixth day of the movement. The movement began on January 31, 2026 (Saturday) at the call of the Chittagong Port Protection Movement Council. A partial strike of 8 hours was observed every day for the first three days (January 31 to February 2). Then, a 24-hour all-out strike began on February 3 (Tuesday), which turned into an indefinite continuous strike on the same day. As a result:

• January 31 to February 2: First three days (partial 8-hour work stoppage)
• February 3: Day 4 (24-hour strike begins)
• February 4: Fifth day
• February 5 (today): Day 6 (third day of indefinite strike)

There are 10-13 ships stuck at the jetty, which has caused huge losses to the economy. Revenue collection has also decreased by about 40%. The protesters said that NCT is the most profitable terminal of the port, which was built with its own funds and is earning a record in history. If it is handed over to a foreign company, the jobs and rights of local workers and employees will be threatened, and the risk of revenue evasion and looting will increase.

According to sources, about 11-13 thousand containers (TEU) are stuck in the port and private depots due to the strike. Out of this, the value of export-oriented containers is estimated at 600-660 million dollars (about 7-8 thousand crore taka). During normal times, the port handles 8-9 thousand TEU containers every day, but now not a single container is being unloaded.

The protesters said that the most profitable part of the NCT port, which was built with its own funds and is generating record revenues, would threaten the jobs, rights and national revenue of local workers if it was handed over to a foreign company.

The demands include: cancellation of the lease process, withdrawal of transfer and harassment orders, resignation of the port chairman, etc. Today, Shipping Advisor M. Sakhawat Hossain came to the port and met with labor leaders, but no solution was reached.

During the meeting, workers blocked his convoy of vehicles and staged a protest. The port authority has termed the protest as unreasonable and has formed a committee to assess the extent of the damage. Traders and exporters have demanded a quick solution as the standoff is having a serious impact on the country’s economy.

They are demanding that the lease process be immediately canceled, and the transfer and harassment orders be withdrawn. Among the protesters, Humayun Kabir, coordinator of the Chittagong Port Protection Movement, Ibrahim Khokon and other leaders said that the program will continue until the demands are met.

The port authority has termed the strike as unreasonable and has formed a committee to assess the revenue loss. Port users and traders have expressed deep concern and demanded a quick solution as the standoff is having a serious impact on the country’s export-import sector. The incident has sparked fresh debates over port autonomy, protection of national assets and workers’ rights. Discussions between the authorities and the protesters have not yet resulted in a solution.