C&F Agents Call For Strike in Benapole

The Federation of Bangladesh Customs Clearing and Forwarding (C&F) Agents Association has called for a strike on various demands, including amendments to the National Board of Revenue's Licensing Rules 2020.

Unloading of goods at 11 customs stations across the country, including Benapole, will be suspended from Tuesday morning till evening.

They demanded the amendment of the Licensing Rules 2020 more than once but the concerned authorities did not take the matter into consideration.

Earlier, in a press conference in Dhaka on Sunday, the organization's President Shamsur Rahman and secretary-general Sultan Hossain Khan signed a letter announcing the strike.

C&F agent traders will refrain from unloading all kinds of goods at customs during the day during the strike. In addition, leaflet distributions and street rallies will be held among C&F members to make the protest a success.

Shamsur Rahman, president of the Federation of Bangladesh Customs Clearing and Forwarding (C&F) Agents Association, said they had repeatedly requested the authorities to amend the 2020 licensing rules but they did not comply. In the end, the strike was called off in order to make a reasonable claim with the opinion of all the members of the association.

He also said that C&F traders would observe the strike in a peaceful atmosphere.

The government's revenue collection will also be hampered as the unloading of goods at the port has been stopped due to the strike. At the same time, there is a risk of congestion in the port. From the goods imported from Benapole port alone, revenue of 30 to 40 crore taka is collected every day. Therefore, ordinary traders demanded a quick solution to the stalemate.