The Benapole Transport Agency Owners Association has called for a strike at Benapole, the country’s largest land port, demanding adequate cranes and forklifts. Later, after discussions with the port officials, they withdrew the strike.
The Benapole Transport Agency Owners Association decided to call off the strike at a meeting held at the Benapole International Passenger Terminal on Monday (16 May) at noon.
Moshiar Rahman, Vice-President of the organisation, said that the unloading of goods was being hampered as there were not enough cranes and forklifts for loading and unloading heavy goods at Benapole port. As a result, according to the decision of the association, they called for a strike from Tuesday (17 May). On Monday, the port authority met with them and assured them that 3 new cranes and 3 forklifts would be provided at the port by 31 May as a temporary measure. He also said that incompetent crane and forklift drivers will be replaced. He also said that cranes and forklifts would be connected as per the demand of the port by June 15.
He added that if the port authority does not accept their demands by 15 June, the strike will be called again from 16 June.
Milton, manager of Black Bengal Enterprise, a crane and forklift supplier at Benapole port, said senior officials at the company had been notified of the crane and forklift crisis. Cranes and forklifts will be connected to the port soon.
