Stalemate at the six General Cargo Berths (GCB) of Chittagong Port prevailed till yesterday evening as the agitating dockworkers and newly appointed private berth operators failed to reach a consensus.
The container operators failed to begin handling as of 9.00pm yesterday in spite of a series of meetings between the officials of Chittagong Port Authority (CPA) and leaders of the dock workers over the last few days.
However, leaders of Dock Bandar Sramik Karmachari Federation decided to halt its movement around 7.00pm yesterday following assurance from the CPA of fulfilling of their demands which include recruitment of the scrutinised workers, issuing of identity cards among the workers and introduction of labour department under CPA’s Traffic Department.
But the private berth operators refused to work with those who worked under CPA supervision since May 10.
Berth Operator Owners Association President Shahadat Hossain Selim said “We want to continue working in way we did till May 10 and will engage our own workers.”
But the CPA is trying engaging the container handlers who have been working for the last four months, he alleged.
CPA Member Hadi Hossain said they urged the berth operators to start the work engaging the existing workers primarily.
Earlier, dockworkers beat up two workers of a private berth operator of Fazle & Sons Limited when they went to jetty No 9 at about 12:30pm to perform their duties.
The injured named as Md Mainuddin and Ali Asgar were admitted at Chittagong Medical College Hospital (CMCH), said sources at CMCH.
