Strike cripples Teknaf land port

An indefinite strike to protest the arrest of two C&F (Clearing and Forwarding) agents, caught with Yaba drugs, has crippled all operations at the Teknaf land port in Cox’s Bazar.

C&F Agents Association called the strike in a press conference at 9pm Monday in solidarity with the Export-Import Association and Truck owners-workers Association.

The strike started on Tuesday.

They claimed the two men were being accused on false and trumped-up charges.

“The strike has paralysed all operations,” said Port Operation Manager Abu Noor Khaled on Tuesday.

Exports and imports were put off and no goods moved, he said. “No vehicle has left the port.”

The two CNF agents were among five caught with 240 Yaba tablets during anti-narcotic raids conducted by the BGB-42 Battalion at various parts of Teknaf on Monday.

Those arrested -- Md Ziabul, 31, Md Ayaz, 29, Md Abdul Hamid, Md Hanif, 25 and Md Rashid Ahmed, 30 -- were locals.

Ayaz is the treasurer for C&F Agents Association and his brother Ziabul, its member.

“The authorities are informed of the developments,” BGB official Abuzar told bdnews24.com. “We will decide after investigation.”