STAFF CORRESPONDENT, Ctg

Import, export, and other operations at most factories under three export processing zones (EPZs) in Chattogram were badly disrupted for the last three days due to a strike enforced by prime mover workers, which ended yesterday evening.

Drivers and helpers of container-carrying prime movers, particularly engaged in transporting import and export containers between Chattogram port and the factories under Chattogram EPZ (CEPZ), Karnaphuli EPZ, and Korean EPZ (KEPZ), enforced the strike from Monday morning over several demands.

Their demands included an increase in monthly wages and other allowances paid by vehicle owners, as well as the implementation of appointment letters.

However, the workers withdrew their strike following a fruitful tripartite meeting convened in the afternoon by Additional Commissioner (Traffic) of Chattogram Metropolitan Police (CMP) Wahidul Hoque Chowdhury.

Md Hasan Mahmud, joint secretary of the Chattogram District Prime Mover Trailer Workers Union, said the workers had been demanding a raise in the monthly basic wage from Tk 6,000 to Tk 11,000.

At the meeting, vehicle owners promised to meet the demands, including raising the monthly basic wage to Tk 8,000, Mahmud said, adding that the workers withdrew the strike following this assurance.

CEPZ Executive Director Moshiuddin Bin Mesbah said many of the 137 factories in the CEPZ suffered due to the strike, as a major portion of their imports and exports transported in containers got stuck.