Bangladesh Truck Covered Van Owners Association and Bangladesh Truck Driver Workers’ Federation have started a 72-hour nationwide strike to press home their 15-point demand.
The two organizations started the work abstention at 6am on Tuesday.
As a result, goods transportation to and from Chittagong Port has come to a halt, and loading and unloading at NCT, CCT and GCB jetties and yards of the port have become uncertain.
Chittagong port authorities said all types of work, including loading and unloading of goods from containers as well as transporting of goods from the inland container depot and factories, remained suspended since Tuesday morning, reports UNB.
This has caused concern among importers, clearing and forwarding agents, shipping agents, and port users.
Zafar Alam, general secretary of Bangladesh Truck Covered Van Owners Association, said the strike was called as the authorities concerned were not complying with the demands of goods transport owners and drivers.
“No trucks or covered vans are entering or leaving Chittagong port with goods. The strike will continue until our demands are met,” he added.
The demands include stopping collection of advance income tax from trucks and covered vans and refunding of advance income tax collected so far.
Goods transportation owners and workers also demanded that police stop harassing them for bribes.
Meanwhile, transport workers brought out a rally in the Saltgola area of the port city in support of the strike.
