A faction of agitating vessel workers has withdrawn their strike after a meeting with senior police officers.
Published : 09 Nov 2014, 08:06 PM
But another faction is continuing with their protests demanding security on the waterways.
A robbery on a lighter vessel on river Meghna in Lakshmipur and the subsequent disappearance of seven labourers triggered the strike from Saturday.
Consequently, loading and unloading of goods at Chittagong and Mongla ports came to a standstill. Transportation of goods via waterways was also disrupted.
On Sunday evening, a faction of the protesters met police's Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of Chittagong region Md Shafiqul Islam.
He said the agitators had presented a seven-point charter of demand including providing security for vessels plying the internal route.
"They agreed to call off their strike after we assured them of addressing their demands," DIG Islam told bdnews24.com.
He said police had intensified search for the missing labourers.
The Lakshmipur superintendent of police and senior coastguard officials, among others, took part in the meeting.
A faction of Lighterage Sramik Union chose to abstain from the meeting.
The general secretary of the faction said they had not withdrawn their strike.
"Our strike will continue until the missing workers are found and extortion and robbery on waterways end," he told bdnews24.com.