Hili port users on strike to realise 3-point demand
Hili port users on strike to realise 3-point demand
Export-import activities suspended
Activities at Hili land port remained suspended for the second day yesterday due to an indefinite strike enforced by the port users to press home their three-point demand.
Hili Land port C & F Agent Association, Customs Association, Truck Operators Association, Truck Driver Association and workers Federation went on the strike on Wednesday to press for the demands.
The demands are putting an end to giving seal on the manifest of imported goods, harassment by members of Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB), and filing of cases by BGB without informing the C&F agents and importers.
The port users said they will continue strike until their demands are met. Around 3,000 workers at the port have become jobless as loading and unloading of goods have remained suspended since Wednesday morning.
Around 500 goods-laden trucks got stranded inside the Indian territory as these were not allowed to enter Bangladesh through Hili land port due to the strike.
According to the customs official, the strike is causing a loss one crore in revenue each day.
Leaders and members of the five associations yesterday formed a human chain in front of the customs office in port area for an hour from 11:00am, demanded removal of the commanding officer [CO] of Joypurhat BGB-3 Battalion.
Addressing a rally at the venue, leaders of the association alleged that the BGB commanding officer unilaterally introduced the system on April 27 to check the import documents in the name of security in the port area.
The system kills time and truckers and helpers are being harassed by BGB men at the time of checking documents, they said.