Container transportation to and from Chattogram port has been disrupted, as workers operating container-carrying prime movers stopped work since this morning due to the election of their union's executive committee.
The container transportation with prime movers will remain suspended for 12 hours -- from 6:00am to 6:00pm.
However, Chittagong Port Authority Secretary Md Omar Faruk said that export and import services at the port remain unaffected, as goods are being transported by others vehicles, including trucks and covered vans.
Bangladesh Inland Container Depots Association Secretary General Md Ruhul Amin Sikder informed that no prime movers transported containers between the port and the ICDs in the morning.
In a normal day on average 5,000 TEUs (twenty-foot equivalent units) to 6000 TEUs of export, import and empty containers are transported between the port and the ICDs.
Md Wahiduzzaman Jahid, chairman of the union's poll committee, said they took the decision to suspended container transportation since many ICDs are located far away from the poll centre.
Jahid expressed regret over the temporary disruption in goods transportation.
On the other hand, the election began at Chattogram Port Republic Club at 8:00am and will be continued until 4:00pm. A total of 67 candidates are vying for the 25-member executive committee of the association having a total of 10,452 voters. Most members of the association are prime mover operators.
Chattogram District Prime Mover Trailer, Concrete Mixer, Flat Bed and Dump Truck Workers Union made the announcement yesterday to keep the movement of prime mover trailers at the port, inland container depots (ICDs) and in different districts.
