Staff Correspondent:

A section of railway officials and employees have announced plans to surround the Eastern Railway’s CRB building after Eid, protesting the lease of Chittagong Goods Port Yard (CGPY) land in Halishahar to a private company.

The announcement was made from a human chain demonstration held at the CGPY gate on Monday (March 24).

The protesters demand cancellation of the lease and protection of existing religious sites, opposing the land’s development for graveyards, mosques, and centenary shrines.

Seven railway employee organisations, including the Bangladesh Pointsman Employees Association and the Bangladesh Railway Employees League, jointly organised the human chain, drawing 150-200 participants.

Employees alleged that railway authorities leased 21.29 acres of CGPY land to Saif Powertech for an Inland Container Depot (ICD), disregarding National Board of Revenue (NBR) regulations.

They said the agreement, between Saif Logistics Alliance and Container Company Bangladesh Limited, was made despite internal opposition.

Concerns escalated when it was revealed the leased land contained a historical graveyard, mosque, and shrine.

While railway authorities initially assured the sites’ preservation in 2022, the lease agreement sparked renewed anger among railway personnel and local residents.