A planned work abstention by handling workers at Benapole land port demanding fair wages and improved working conditions was suspended on Sunday morning shortly before it was due to begin.
Workers of Handling Labour Unions 891 and 925, engaged in cargo loading and unloading operations, were scheduled to start the work stoppage in the morning. Their demands also included action against alleged irregularities by contractors.
However, they withdrew the programme around 9:00am in front of the main gate of the port after receiving assurances from port authorities during a meeting. Authorities said the demands would be addressed within one month.
The workers also said they decided to suspend the agitation considering the ongoing national budget period.
They alleged that while the handling charge per tonne of goods at Benapole port has increased from Tk33 in 2012 to Tk78 in 2026, their wages have remained unchanged at Tk18 per tonne.
They demanded that wages for manual workers be fixed at Tk 35 per tonne and Tk 30 for other categories of handling work.
General Secretary of Benapole Land Port Handling Workers Union Sahid Ali warned that if their demands are not met within the stipulated time, they will enforce a tougher indefinite strike.
Benapole Port Director Shamin Hossain said necessary steps would be taken to resolve the issue.
Earlier on Thursday, the workers had announced the work abstention to press home their demands.
