C&F staff demand security in Ctg port

Employees of clearing and forwarding (C&F) agents yesterday demanded security inside the Chittagong port yards, otherwise threatened to go on work abstention, following attacks on two employees on April 27-28.

Several hundreds C&F staff, known as jetty sarkar, who handles official paper works for the importers, demonstrated in front of Gate 4.

According to them, two persons intercepted a jetty sarkar Billal Hossain on April 27 and confined him inside a container after snatching away his money and phone. He was later rescued by fellow staff.

Jetty sarkar Md Nazmul was severely injured when a group stabbed him and took away his money.

"We will stop working if proper security is not ensured," said Kazi Md Khairul Bashar, president of Chattagram Clearing and Forwarding Agents Karmachari Union.

Contacted, Director (Security) of Chittagong Port Authority Lt Col Md Abdul Gaffar said, "We have beefed up the security." He suspected snatchers did not attack the employees since hundreds get inside regularly for various port related activities and it could have been them. "An inquiry is underway," he said.