Container transport to and from Chattogram Port resumed fully at 5pm today, as trailer owners also called off their protest following the withdrawal of the strike by a section of truck owners.

Though the truck and covered van owners called off their strike at 3pm after receiving verbal assurance from the Chittagong Port Authority (CPA) about postponing the increased entry fee, prime mover trailer owners were initially unwilling to make any announcement, as they were seeking written assurance.

Chattogram Prime Mover Trailers Owners Association General Secretary Mohammad Hossain said that although CPA officials could not provide a written pledge, they assured that the vehicles would be allowed entry by paying the previous rate of Tk 57.50 for now.

Accordingly, they urged the drivers to resume operations, he said.

Bangladesh Inland Container Depots Association (BICDA) Secretary General Ruhul Amin Sikder informed that container transport from the depots resumed around 4:00pm.

Earlier, following a meeting with the CPA chairman today, leaders of the Inter-District Goods Transport Truck-Covered Van Owners' Association called off their strike.

The CPA chairman held the meeting with stakeholders at the CPA from 12:30pm to 3:00pm.

Association Social Welfare Secretary Shamsuzzaman Suman told The Daily Star that the CPA chairman assured them the decision to hike the entry fee would remain suspended until a final decision is made at the CPA board meeting, following government directives.

"The CPA chairman assured us that vehicles can now enter the port by paying the previous entry fee rate. Accordingly, we called off the strike and urged drivers of trucks, covered vans, and prime mover trailers under our organisation to resume transporting cargo and containers," Suman said.

Referring to the meeting's decision, CPA Secretary Md Omar Faruk said the increased entry fee of Tk 230 would remain suspended for now, and drivers of cargo-carrying vehicles could enter the port by paying the previous rate of Tk 57.50.

He added that the CPA would send a letter to the ministry regarding the transport owners' demands, and the CPA board would make a final decision upon receiving directions from the ministry.