Chattogram Bureau :
After the meeting between the leaders of Bangladesh Truck and Covered Van Owners-Workers Unity Council and Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan in the capital , the 72-hrs long strike was called off. After about 34 hours, the port area has returned to its old look due to the business of cargo truck-covered vans and container-carrying prime movers. Cargo vehicles started arriving and departing at the port from 4:30 pm yesterday (September 22). Prime mover operation in NCT and CCT started at 5 o’clock. Chittagong Port Authority Director (Transport) Enamul Karim told media that about 1,000 vehicles loaded with goods were waiting inside the port to call off the strike. They started leaving the port one by one from 4.30 pm. The empty transport was then loaded into the port. At this time the roads around the port were jammed with traffic. He said activities at the terminal, jetty and shed inside the port were normal during the transport strike. Due to the strike from 8 am on Tuesday (September 21), no cargo truck, covered van or prime mover could enter or leave the Chittagong port like the rest of the country.
As a result, container transport to and from 19 private container depots (offdocks) inside and outside the port was virtually stopped. Concerns have been raised among port users including importers, garment exporters, C&F agents, shipping agents, berth operators.
News of the withdrawal of the strike has brought relief to those concerned. Bangladesh Truck Driver Workers Federation President Talukder Mohammad announced the withdrawal of the last strike during a meeting between Bangladesh Truck and Covered Van Owners-Workers Unity Council leaders and Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan in the conference room of the Home Ministry at noon on Wednesday.
