Benapole land port workers on strike
Workers at the land port here went on an indefinite strike yesterday, demanding implementation of the government-declared minimum wages for them.
Loading and unloading of goods came to a halt as several hundred workers staged demonstration in the port area and held a rally to realise their demand.
The agitating workers also vandalised the office of the cargo handling contractor and Jubo League Sharsa upazila unit secretary Ahiduzzaman. Four people were injured during the incident.
Due to the strike, neither any truck with imported goods arrived at the port from India, nor any left it with export item.
Several hundred trucks loaded with perishable items like fish and fruits remained stranded on both sides of border since early morning.
Benapole Port-handling Workers' Union President Jahangir Alam Lal said they would continue the strike until the demand is met by the port authorities.
Port workers observed strike for four days to realise the same demand last month.
They withdrew their last strike on June 7 when MP of Jessore-1 Sheikh Afiluddin assured them of taking steps to meet their demand.
As the workers drew wages at the previous rate for the month of June, they started the indefinite strike yesterday.
The workers are now demanding Tk 18.30 per tonne from their contractors in place of Tk 15 per tonne. They were given Tk 12 in the previous year, Workers' Union President Jahangir Alam Lal added.
Additional riot police led by a magistrate have been deployed at different points of the port to avoid any untoward incident.
Deputy Director of Benapole Land Port Abdul Jalil said he was taking steps to resume the activities of the port at any cost.
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