A huge number of containers remained stranded at those points as only 15 to 20 were released from the ICD, while no major activities took place at the Dhaka Customs House.

The exporters have demanded immediate government intervention to resolve the crisis.

" Exporters have been badly effected by the strike at different important customs points," said the acting president of the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) SM Nurul Hoque to The Daily Star yesterday.

He urged the customs officials to get their demands fulfilled through legal options.

Normal activities at the ICD and the Dhaka Customs House, like releasing and exporting goods, preparing documents and assessment functions, were severely hampered during the last two days owing to the strike called by the customs and VAT officials.

Exporters are also affected by non-release of imported raw materials by the customs. The Dhaka Export Processing Zone is directly hit by the activities relating to export and import coming to a halt.

It was, however, reported that normal activities took place in Chittagong and partial activities took place in other customs points.

The Bangladesh Customs Excise and VAT Executive Officers Association called the non-stop strike from Saturday last to protest the arrest and harassment of 12 customs officials facing charges of tax evasion.

The leaders of the Association, however, have agreed to call off the strike only for today (Monday) following the assurance of Finance and Planning Minister M Saifur Rahman that their legitimate demands would be met They will announce a fresh programme this evening.

The assurance came during a meeting between the minister and the customs and VAT officials held at the finance ministry.

An eight-member delegation of the National Board of Revenue (NBR), led by its acting Chairman Tazammul Ali Chowdhury met with the minister yesterday. The finance minister asked Principle Secretary to the Prime Minister Kamal Uddin Siddiqui to sit with both the officials of the NBR and the Bureau of Anti-corruption to find a solution to the impasse, meeting sources said.

The finance minister hoped that the situation would soon be normal as he had taken up the matter with the government to ensure that the customs officials are not harassed in future.

Asked about the alleged harassment by the officials of the Bureau of Anti-Corruption, he said the filing of a case by the bureau against the customs officials took place due to the antagonistic relations between the two government agencies.

After the meeting was over, activities at the ICD began partially from 2:00pm and only 15-20 containers were released. Normally 120-130 containers are released every day.

The members of the Bangladesh (BCS) Customs Association will meet tomorrow (Tuesday) at a meeting to decide their next course of action.

President of the Bangladesh Chamber of Industries (BCI) A K Azad demanded immediate withdrawal of the customs strike in the interest of the business community.