Loading and unloading activities of Chattogram port remained suspended for two hours on Wednesday night as workers staged a demo protesting against the alleged misbehavior of two policemen.
Protesters accused two cops of misbehaving with their fellow port workers earlier on Wednesday and threatened to go on a strike if their three-point demands are not met by 1 pm on Thursday.
According to the protesters, Shohag, a crane operator, was returning home from work around 5 pm on his bike.
“A sub-inspector signaled Shohag to stop and sought an explanation as to why he was on the road during the lockdown near Zaman Hotel in the CEPZ area. Despite Shohag informing the cop that he was returning home from work, the sub-inspector asked for his identity papers and misbehaved with him,” a protester told.
On the same day, a police constable assaulted another crane operator in the Nimtala Biswaroad area.
As the news spread, the crane operators at the port staged a protest from 8 pm to 10 pm.
Mohammad Nasir Ullah, general secretary of the Chattagram Port Winsman (Crane Operator) Welfare Multipurpose Cooperative Society, said, “We tried to solve the issue after discussions with the director (traffic) of the port. But when one of our leaders went to the police station, cops threatened to arrest him. That’s the reason why the crane operators abstained from work.”
“We have submitted a memorandum to the port authorities, demanding a pass for the workers, and ensuring their transportation and security during the lockdown period. If our demands are not met by 1 pm on Thursday, we may go on a strike,” he said.
The government has enforced a nationwide strict lockdown for 7 days starting from Wednesday to curb coronavirus transmission.
