Ctg container operators' strike postponed
After four days of nonstop strike at the port city by Bangladesh Road Transport Owners' and Workers' Federation, a compromise was reached with authorities on September 30, but not before serious damage had been caused to the country's exports and imports. We cannot condone such action by any party that holds the economy hostage. The Road Transport and Highways Division is well within its rights to enforce a ban and charge fines on heavy movers that cause damage to roads by overloading. That trade unions feel it is their right to blackmail authorities into submission is hardly a conducive way to do business, especially since the Chittagong port carries 97 percent of all import and export activities of the country.
The garments sector (RMG) suffered the greatest losses as deadlines were missed by manufacturers to ship goods on time. With no other option, the RMG sector had to resort to expensive air freight. The container operators have only postponed the strike but a repeat of this situation cannot be allowed. Yes, the Federation may have serious issues of harassment with regards to the fines being imposed which the authorities should address. But the highway link between Dhaka and Chittagong cannot be allowed to be damaged because truckers and trailers willfully flout the law. An inter-ministerial meeting is to be convened on October 4 to discuss the issue and measures should be taken therein so that such strikes are not repeated. The authorities cannot bow down to undue pressure, and if such action is threatened again, the perpetrators should be held to account.
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