Deadlock in the Bangladesh-Myanmar border trade through Teknaf continued for the third consecutive day yesterday due to an indefinite strike enforced by traders.

However, the district administration has convened a joint meeting on Saturday to resolve the crisis through discussion with all parties involved.

A joint body of importers, exporters, C&F agents and truck owners in Teknaf enforced the strike on Monday protesting "extortion and harassment" by police and Bangladesh Riffles (BDR).

They alleged the members of BDR and police in the name of checking documents and illegal goods often harass them at border points and on Teknaf-Cox's Bazar Road.

Meantime, Deputy Commissioner of Cox's Bazar M Saiful Islam, following a directive by State Minister for Communications Salahuddin Ahmed, called the joint meeting.

All the trade bodies in Cox's Bazar and Teknaf, and representatives of truck owners, BDR and police have been invited to attend the meeting. Local lawmaker Shahjahan Chowdhury may also join the negotiation.

The state minister for communications, also the minister in charge of the district, at a meeting on district's law and order on Tuesday night directed the DC to initiate the negotiations to bring an end to the stalemate, sources said.

The strike resulting in suspension of border trade is causing huge revenue loss to the government and affecting business in the border town.