Chittagong Port dockworkers calls off strike

Dhaka: The scheduled strike of the dockworkers at Chittagong port was called off here yesterday following a fruitful meeting held on Saturday night.

The tripartite meeting that continued for five and a half hours since 7:00am discussed the 24-point demand of the dockers and reached an understanding on some of them including 17 per cent rise in the wages of the dock workers.

The meeting was held in presence of Fisheries and Livestock Minister Abdullah Al Noman and lawmaker Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury.

Chittagong Port Authority (CPA) Chairman AMM Shahadat Hossain, Chittagong Chamber President Saifuzzaman Chowdhury, Bangladesh Masters Stevedores Association (BMSA) Chairman Manzurul Alam, Dock Bandar Sramik Karmachari Federation and Dock Sramik Union (CBA) President Golam Mohammad Chowdhury took part in the discussion among others.

The meeting decided on withdrawal of audit objection to the newly registered workers, gratuity for sweeping workers, and inclusion of four workers' representatives in Dock Workers' Management Board.

It also reached understanding on the salaries of the 13 technicians of Chittagong port.

CPA Member (finance) Ahmad Abul Kashem, Director (traffic) Ehsanul Kabir, Chittagong Chamber Vice-president Abdul Latif, Director Amirul Haq, BMSA Vice-Chairman Mohammad Ibrahim, former director of FBCCI Tareq Kamal and leaders of Dock Bandar Sramik Karmachari Federation and Bandar Sramik Union leaders participated in the meeting.