Transport operators' countrywide strike

 

The transport operators' countrywide strike  affected export and import of goods at a time when businesses have been attempting to make a recovery from the fallouts of the Covid-19 pandemic.Any disruption to business, including in transportation of goods, in the time of revival will only prolong the recovery.

 

Many exporters faced difficulties to carry goods from their factories to the Chattogram port and vice-versa. Moreover, all types of activities at the Chattogram port almost came to a halt as a faction of owners and workers of goods transporting vehicles enforced the countrywide 72-hour work abstention since yesterday morning over a 15-point demand.

 

Goods and container transport to and from the port as well as loading and unloading of goods and containers at the vessels berthed at the jetties remained suspended yesterday as no goods-carrying vehicles like trucks, covered vans and prime-movers operated. Activities at the 18 private inland container depots (ICDs) also were badly disrupted due to the work abstention of vehicle workers. Bangladesh Covered-Van, Truck, Prime Mover Goods Transportation Owners Association and Bangladesh Truck Drivers Workers Federation jointly enforced the countrywide work abstention. Some of the major demands are cancellation of the decision of hiking advance income tax imposed on the vehicle owners and removal of complications in issuing driving licences for heavy vehicles, they said.

 

Stoppage of harassment by police through stopping vehicles at any place in the name of checking documents and setting up of adequate terminals and restrooms for the goods-carrying vehicles on both sides of the highways are some of other demands.

 

But the berth operators said loading and unloading activities also came to a halt as prime-movers engaged in carrying the unloaded containers from the hook point to different yards did not operate. Saif Powertech handles container movement at seven jetties under Chittagong Container Terminal (CCT) and New Mooring Container terminal (NCT).

 

On an average day, 1,000 TEUs (twenty foot equivalent units) of import containers are usually unloaded from a vessel. Transport of import and export containers between the port and 18 private ICDs was also suspended.