The Coastal Ship Owners' Association of Bangladesh, Bangladesh Cargo Vessel Owners' Association, and Inland Vessel Owners' Association of Chittagong had jointly enforced the strike since Thursday midnight, demanding immediate unloading of wheat from the 24 lighter vessels that have remained stalled for the last eight months.

Fisheries and Livestock Minister Abdullah Al Noman held a meeting with the agitating owners and workers of lighter vessels at the Chittagong Circuit House yesterday evening.

However, the meeting apparently could not be much successful, sources said.

The association leaders at the meeting said the strike will be withdrawn only when the stalled lighter vessels are unloaded through settlements among the Chittagong customs, Chittagong Port Authority, and the importers and shipping agents concerned, sources said.

The three associations that own over 2400 lighter vessels, including 400 in Chittagong alone, demanded proper initiative by the customs and port authorities in this respect.

Meanwhile, with Friday and Saturday being weekly holidays, there was little possibility of such initiatives by the authorities concerned before Sunday, sources said.

The association leaders alleged that due to disagreement among the importers, exporters and shipping authorities, unloading of wheat could not take place in the last eight months.

The mother vessel MV Celtic reached Chittagong Port on February 27 with 26,500 metric tonne wheat, which was loaded onto 30 lighter vessels, but only six were unloaded, they said.

The three associations at press conferences simultaneously held in Dhaka and Chittagong on October 9 threatened to go on strike from Thursday midnight if steps are not taken to unload the wheat and release the 24 vessels.

Business community in the Port City said the strike will affect the country's economy adversely.

Over 54 cement factories will suffer due to this strike as their smooth production depends on the timely supply of clinkers transported from Chittagong Port by these lighter vessels, they said.

Meanwhile, the port sources said despite the strike, loading, unloading and delivery of goods to and from the Chittagong Port were not hampered.

BDNEWS adds: Twelve mother vessels--10 in the outer anchorage--laden with fertiliser, sugar and clinker remained stranded yesterday while nearly 500 vessels for lightering and transporting goods on inland routes stayed off-work.

Port users feared that if the strike continues for two more days, the port situation will worsen and the stranded vessels will have to face huge demurrage for the delay.

Nearly one lakh tonne goods are lightered and transported to different parts of the country from the outer anchorage of the Chittagong Port everyday.