Strike ends as CPA puts tariff hike on hold

CHATTOGRAM, Oct 19: Transport owners and workers at the Chattogram Port withdrew their strike on Sunday afternoon as the Chittagong Port Authority (CPA) agreed not to realise the recently hiked charges for the time being.

CPA Secretary Mohammad Omar Faruk told The Financial Express the port authorities had held a meeting with the stakeholders to solve the prevailing crisis.

"The strike was withdrawn after a successful meeting. The movement of goods and containers became normal again in the afternoon," he said.

He also said the meeting had decided that the CPA would send a letter to the ministry about the transport owners' demands and wait for a decision.

"Until we receive the decision, the tariff/charge for transportation, clearing, gate pass, etc. will remain unchanged," added Faruk.

Earlier, owners and workers of prime movers, trucks, and lorries started an indefinite strike on Saturday to protest against the tariff hike.

The strike crippled operations at the main seaport in the country as the movement of prime movers, trucks, and lorries at the jetties and port areas came to a halt.

Heavy vehicles, mainly prime movers, play a crucial role in carrying goods to and from the port.

Prime movers are essential to port operations, as container transportation depends entirely on them.

From moving containers between private depots and the port to loading and unloading shipments, the entire process relies on these vehicles.

Meanwhile, clearing and forwarding (C&F) agents and customs agents started a four-hour work abstention at 9am on Sunday, protesting against the increased entry and licence fees.

Against the backdrop, the CPA held a meeting with the leaders of the C&F Agents Association, as well as transport owners and workers at noon.

The leaders of six related organisations were invited to the meeting, which was chaired by CPA officials in the port's conference hall.

The meeting decided not to collect increased tariffs for the transportation of goods for the time being.

The port authorities hiked tariffs from October 15, despite protests by the business community, exporters, importers, and port users.

As a result, users had to pay extra charges to receive port services.

Transport association leaders said the CPA's security department had issued an office order on October 13, setting the new entry fee at Tk 200 plus a 15 per cent VAT, bringing the total amount to Tk 230 per heavy vehicle, up from the previous Tk 57.50.

Leaders of the Chattogram Inter-District Goods Transport Association, the Chattogram Truck and Covered Van Workers' Union, and the Prime Mover and Flatbed Owners' Association said the CPA had imposed the new fees "forcibly" without consulting the main stakeholders.

In a joint statement, they said, "We handle around 85 per cent of the port's cargo. Before deciding on such a major change, the port authorities should have discussed the issue with us. We have protested this arbitrary decision before and urged the authorities to withdraw it."

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