Transport strike halts goods release at Ctg port

Transportation of import and export goods to and from Chittagong port has been stopped due to the ongoing transport strike.

However, loading and unloading of goods from ships on the jetties have remained normal, port officials say.

Bangladesh Road Transport Workers Federation has started their 48-hour strike from today, Sunday, to push for their eight-point demand.

No vehicle entered or exited the port since the strike started at 6:00 in the morning.

Omar Faruk, secretary of Chittagong Port Authority, said loading and unloading of goods from ships are going on inside the port.

They are all ready for releasing goods from the port premises but no cargo vehicle has yet come in, he said.

Import goods are released through covered vans, trucks and container-carrying vehicles, while   export goods are done so only through container-carrying vehicles.

Local media reports say goods export is being hampered as under the strike, the plying of all goods-carrying vehicles also has been banned.

Abu Bakar Siddique, executive president of Chittagong Prime Mover, Trailer, Truck, Covered Van, Flatbed Owners Association, said there are some 11,000 container-carrying vehicles.

None of those vehicles is plying following the strike for what he said they are also supporting the transport strike.

Mahbubul Alam President Chittagong Chamber of Commerce & Industry, said goods transportation has been stranded due to the strike across the country. It is impacting on export and imports.

He called on the transport workers association to withdraw the strike for the interest of the country.