Strike halts export through Benapole port

Export through Benapole land port remained suspended since Wednesday morning as workers went on strike protesting harassment on them by the members of Indian Border Security Force (BSF), reports UNB.

Hundreds of goods-laden trucks remained stranded in the port area creating around one-kilometer gridlock till filing of this reports around 2:30pm.

Rahman Kalu, publicity secretary of Benepole-Jhikargacha Truck Workers' Union, alleged that some members of BSF used to torture Bangladeshi truckers at Petropole of India and even they confine them to the shed.

As a result, the workers have to pass time without food, said the publicity secretary adding that the BSF men even physically assault them when they try to come out to have food.

The export suspension, however, did not affect passenger movement and loading and unloading activities inside the port area.

Azizur Rahman, taxation officer of Petrapole Land Check Post, said goods export from Bangladesh remained suspended since morning but the import activities are continuing as usual.