Strike halts work at Akhaura Land Port

A large number of trucks remain stranded at Akhaura port as an indefinite strike continues.Photo: STAR

Akhaura Land Port was brought to a standstill yesterday after the Export and Import Association here called an indefinite strike in protest of the arrest of a truck driver and his helper in India.
According to the association, truck driver Hafiz Uddin and helper Babul Mia was driving a stone-laden truck to Agartala Land Port of India from Akhaura Land Port of Bangladesh Wednesday.
On the way, Border Security Force of India arrested the two men and seized their truck, though they had valid documents, the association said.
Hearing the news, the Export and Import Association members stopped the loading and unloading of Indian goods at Akhaura Land Port.
On Thursday night, the Indian authority handed over the driver and helper to Akhaura customs authority keeping the truck under their custody in India. Later, Akhaura custom authority sent the two men to Akhaura Police Station.
Both Hafiz and Babul are now in jail custody.
Demanding their release and the return of the goods laden truck from India, the association called for indefinite strike at the port.
Md Monir Hossain Babul, secretary of the association of Akhaura Land Port, said that the strike will be continued until the release of truck driver Hafiz Uddin and helper Babul and the return of the stone-laden truck from India.
When contacted, Imtiaz Ahmed, the customs officer of Akhaura Land Port said that the strike is continuing. He said that all loading and unloading of goods at the port has been stopped.
Meanwhile, over100 trucks have remained stranded at the port since the strike began.