A section of transport owners has withdrawn their strike at Chattogram port after the port authority assured them of temporarily postponing the increased vehicle entry fee.

Following a meeting with the Chittagong Port Authority (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.

Meanwhile, leaders of the Chattogram Prime Mover Trailers Owners' Association have yet to call off their strike.

Association General Secretary Mohammad Hossain said they were waiting for a written decision from the CPA and would announce their stance after receiving it.

Uncertainty over the resumption of container transport at the port still prevails, as the association has yet to make any announcement.

ICD owners said transport of prime mover trailers from the ICDs had not resumed until 4:00pm.