Allegations of Six Protesters Being Picked Up Identifying as DB During Chattogram Port Movement
Allegations have been raised that six workers and employees were picked up identifying themselves as DB, on charges of creating chaos in the name of a strike at Chattogram Port. It is alleged that they were picked up during operations conducted in the port area from Saturday (7 February) night to Sunday morning, said Ibrahim Khokon, coordinator of the Chattogram Port Protection Movement Council. However, law enforcement agencies have not acknowledged the matter.
The coordinator of the Chattogram Port Protection Movement Council said, “From Saturday night to Sunday morning, a total of six people, including two senior leaders of the movement council, were picked up identifying themselves as DB. The port chairman is trying to suppress the movement by using force. If force is applied, an even tougher movement will be built. A movement cannot be suppressed by using force without dialogue.”
He said that among those picked up from the port area identifying themselves as DB, three are—Abul Kalam, Shamsul Mia Tuku, Ripon, and Asadul.
Workers and employees at Chattogram Port have been observing an indefinite strike from 8:00 am on Sunday (8 February), pressing four-point demands, including protesting the decision to lease the New Mooring Container Terminal (NCT) of Chattogram Port to the UAE-based company “DP World.”
Due to the strike, work has remained suspended at all locations of the port, including various jetties, terminals, container depots, and the outer anchorage. Additional members of law enforcement agencies have been deployed in front of various gates of the port since morning.
On Saturday (7 February), at a press conference held at the Chattogram Press Club, the coordinator of the Chattogram Port Protection Movement Council and port Jatiyatabadi Sramik Dal leader Md. Humayun Kabir announced the observance of this indefinite strike based on four-point demands.
