CHITTAGONG. July 6: Merchant workers continued their strike for the fourth consecutive day today at the Chittagong port, causing a serious dislocation in port activities, official sources said.

Despite a series of meetings between the port authorities and the leaders of the striking workers, no progress was made

to break the stalemate.

The merchant workers started the wildcat strike from Thursday afternoon in protest against engagement of hatch workers in lighterage cargo from ships anchored at the outer anchorage

Meanwhile, officials con cerned said, huge Quantities of imported cargo unloaded from

ships remain dumped at the port sheds due to suspension of delivery for the last four days.

A senior official commented that Chittagong port might face a severe congestion If the strike continued for a few more days.

‘Though partial work is going on in the ships at the Jetties now, after few days the whole port might be shut down due to the ongoing deadlock." he said.

Port sources said even the shipment of export cargo could not be done due to the strike.

However, the Port Users Forum in an emergency meeting held at the Chittagong Chamber of Commerce and Industry office and chaired by its convenor Kamal Uddin Ahmed expressed grave concern over the deadlock at Chittagong port.

Seeking the immediate resolution of the problem, the Forum felt that the port authorities did not handle the situation sternly and quickly.

The Forum observed that punitive measures should be taken against those who illegally stop the work at the port.

BSS adds: Chittagong city Mayor Alhaj ABM Mahiuddin Chowdhury said today that the activities at Chittagong port will resume tomorrow

The Mayor said this while addressing the leaders of Port Users Forum in Chittagong chamber house auditorium today.

Presided over by convenor of the Forum and vice-president of Chittagong Chamber of Commerce and Industry Kamalud-din Ahmed, the meeting was addressed by a number of repre sentatives from various organisations of the port users.

The Mayor said Chittagong port, the economic lifeline of the country, should not be held hostage by a vested circle. He urged the Chittagong Port Authority and law enforcing agency to take necessary mea sures to resume the activities of the port by tomorrow.

Trie port users also urged the authority to resume the port ac tlvities by tomorrow.