Strike in Ctg port called off

Chittagong Port dock workers-employees' federation has postponed its four-hour work abstention programme scheduled for today following a meeting with the port authorities.
Ahad Miah, joint secretary of the federation, said they postponed the programme following a meeting with the port authorities yesterday that lasted for about two and a half hours till 6:00pm.
The meeting assured the federation of favourably considering their demands.
Earlier in the morning, Shipping Minister Shajahan Khan talked to the labour leader over phone and urged him to refrain from work abstention.
The meeting also decided the port authority would discuss separately with each labour unit and they will prepare a charter of demand for placing before the government.
Seven organisations under private berth operators had called for four-hour work abstention in all branches of the port.
The demand included reinstatement of the workers terminated during the immediate past caretaker government, introduction of dockworkers' managing board and welfare fund and allowing trade union activities.
On July 28, the port workers observed two-hour sit-in demonstration to press home the demand.