Karnaphuli boatmen call off strike

CHATTOGRAM, Oct 22: The boatmen of the Karnaphuli River withdrew their strike on Tuesday, a day after launching it for an indefinite period to meet their demands.

Sources said the boatmen called off their protest programme following a successful meeting with Chattogram City Corporation (CCC) Administrator Md Tofail Islam.

Earlier on Monday, the boatmen went on the non-stop strike at 10 river ghats in the port city in protest against the CCC's decision to give khas collection from the ghats to outsiders.

Sources said leaders of the Karnaphuli River Sampan Majhi Kalyan Samiti Federation were present at the meeting.

President of Karnaphuli River Sampan Majhi Kalyan Samiti Federation SM Payar Ali said, "The CCC administrator fulfilled the demands of boatmen. So, we have withdrawn the strike."

During the strike, around 4,000 'swampans' (boats) were anchored ashore, so thousands of people suffered a lot due to the strike.

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