The Chattogram Workers’ Unity Council (SCOP) has issued a strong warning of an indefinite continuous strike at Chittagong Port starting Sunday, February 8, 2026, unless alleged harassment and repressive measures against protesting workers cease immediately.
The announcement came during an emergency meeting held on Friday, February 6, 2026.
The meeting was presided over by SCOP leader AM Nazim Uddin, with Iftekhar Kamal Khan serving as moderator.
Key attendees included Kazi Sheikh Nurullah Bahar, joint coordinator SK Khoda Toton, Dock Workers’ Party president Md. Harun, general secretary Taslim Hossain Selim, and Fazlul Kabir Mintu.
SCOP leaders stated that following a meeting with Shipping Ministry Adviser Brigadier General (retd) Sakhawat Hossain on Thursday, workers had agreed to postpone their planned strike for two days, considering the upcoming Ramadan and the 13th National Parliament elections.
The adviser had reportedly promised to initiate discussions with all relevant parties to resolve the issues.
However, leaders claimed that the opposite has occurred, with intensified actions against the protesters.
They highlighted media reports from Friday indicating that the Chittagong Port Authority (CPA) has approached the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) seeking a travel ban on 15 workers who led the movement, along with an investigation into their movable and immovable assets.
SCOP alleged that this move was carried out at the direction of the shipping adviser.
Describing these actions as “immoral and disgusting,” the leaders asserted that workers are undeterred by threats of travel bans or asset probes.
They countered by demanding accountability for the assets of the shipping adviser, the chairman of the Board of Investment, and the port chairman involved in the New Mooring Container Terminal (NCT) lease process.
SCOP emphasised its readiness to resist any attempts to suppress the workers’ protest against the NCT lease process. They described the current stance of the port authority as “playing with fire.”
The meeting issued several demands to the Ministry of Shipping: issue an official statement by Saturday, immediately cancel the NCT lease process, reverse the transfers of workers, and halt all other alleged harassing activities.
Failure to comply, they warned, would result in the announcement of a continuous work stoppage programme at Chittagong Port starting Sunday (February 8).
In a related development, the Chittagong Port Authority has formally written to the ACC requesting action against 15 protest leaders for allegedly disrupting normal port operations, import-export activities, and potentially harming the national economy.
The letter, signed by CPA Secretary Syed Refayet Hamim and dated Thursday (February 5), was addressed to the Secretary of the Ministry of Shipping, with copies sent to the Shipping Adviser’s Office, the ACC, and the Director General of the National Intelligence Agency.
The named individuals include Md. Humayun Kabir (coordinator of the Chittagong Port Protection Sangram Parishad), Md. Ibrahim Khokon, Md. Faridur Rahman, Mohammad Shafi Uddin, Rashidul Islam, Abdullah Al Mamun, Md. Zahirul Islam, Khandaker Masuduzzaman, Md. Humayun Kabir (SS Painter), Md. Shakil Raihan, Manik Mizhi, Md. Shamsu Mia, Md. Liaqat Ali, Aminur Rasul Bulbul, and Md. Rabbani.
Several of these workers had been transferred to Mongla and Payra ports amid the ongoing movement.
The protests stem from opposition to the proposed lease of the New Mooring Container Terminal (NCT) to a foreign operator DP World, which workers and unions view as detrimental to national interests.
Earlier strikes and work stoppages had already caused significant disruptions and economic losses at the port.
