Benapole land port workers announce indefinite strike from June 14

Two labour organisations engaged in cargo handling at Benapole land port in Sharsha upazila, Jashore, have announced an indefinite strike from next Sunday, June 14, threatening to disrupt normal port operations and import-export trade. The announcement was made on Tuesday afternoon, June 9.

Leaders of the Benapole Land Port Workers' Union and the Benapole Land Port Handling Workers' Union submitted a written application to the chairman of the Bangladesh Land Port Authority through the port director on Tuesday.

In the application, the workers said the contractor appointed by the port authority has not maintained any contract, coordination or effective communication with their organisation since August 5, 2024. Despite multiple attempts to communicate in writing and verbally, no satisfactory solution has been reached.

Union leaders said strike decisions were previously postponed on assurances from the port director, but with no resolution after a long time, they have decided to suspend all loading and unloading activities from Sunday.

Traders fear that if the strike is implemented, normal operations at the country's largest land port will be disrupted, affecting import-export trade and cargo transportation management.

Benapole Land Port Director Shamim Hossain said the application containing the demands of the two workers' unions has been forwarded to the head office in Dhaka, where a decision will be taken soon.