Strike halts export, import activities

Benapole, June 3 (UNB): Export and import through Benapole Land Port came to a halt on Sunday as truck and tank lorry workers' union of India stopped their activities demanding compensation for the loss caused by a fire.

General secretary of Indian C & F Agent Staff Welfare Association Kartik Chakrabarty said they would enforce an indefinite strike until they get compensation for the loss of 10 trucks of goods in a fire incident.

Director of Benapole port Aminul Islam said the fire broke out in a goods-laden truck which came from India following the explosion of an acid-containing drum near the truck station at around 3:30 am.

The blaze then engulfed at least nine other nearby trucks.

On information, five firefighting units from Benapole, Jhikargaccha and Jashore rushed in and doused the fire after frantic efforts for three and a half hours.

The fire gutted cotton, motor parts and chemical products, the customs official said.

Meanwhile, a 10-member committee has been formed to investigate the incident.

The loss due to the fire incident was estimated at around Tk 100 million, said Aminul Islam.