Labour Platform Launches Hunger Strike Against Port Lease to Foreign Companies
Labour platform Sramik-Karmachari Oikya Parishad (SKOP) has launched a mass hunger strike in Chattogram city, protesting against the potential lease of New Mooring Container Terminal and Laldiar Char of Chattogram Port to foreign companies. The protest comes as the Bangladesh government was set to decide on the matter.
SKOP leaders, including Anwar Hossain and Kazi Sheikh Nurullah Bahar, led the protest. They argued that leasing the successful New Mooring Container Terminal to a foreign company, such as DP World, is against Bangladesh's national interest. They urged the government to halt all moves to hand over any part of the port infrastructure to private operators, local or foreign.
The protest saw solidarity from leaders of various organizations like the Communist Party of Bangladesh, Bangladesh Labour Federation, and Ganomukti Union. Tapan Dutta, president of Trade Union Centre Chattogram district committee, expressed regret that the interim administration upheld the previous government's decision to lease the port infrastructure.
SKOP has threatened tougher programmes, including a general strike in Chattogram, work stoppages, and port blockades, if the government does not cancel the lease plan immediately. The protest highlights the labour platform's stance against privatization of state assets and their demand for government intervention to protect people's assets.
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