Chittagong suffers strike

Dhaka: Work at Bangladesh's busy Chittagong Port came to a standstill yesterday as dock workers observed a strike demanding reinstatement of about 2,200 fellow workers, terminated during the past military-backed interim government. Port officials said the dock workers stopped loading and unloading of goods in 13 general cargo berths since yesterday morning.

"They workers are staging protest rallies and processions in the port area to realise their four-point demand," a police official said on phone.

The UNB news agency, however, quoting port officials said loading activities of two ships and unloading of three ships in the general cargo berth remained suspended but the operation of container ships is normal.

The port workers last week threatened to call a strike for an indefinite period from January 12 if their four-point demand was not met by January 11 deadline. [13/01/10]

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