A planned work abstention by handling workers at Benapole land port demanding fair wages and improved working conditions was suspended on Sunday morning shortly before its enforcement.

Workers of Handling Labour Unions 891 and 925, engaged in cargo loading and unloading activities, were supposed to go on the work stoppage in the morning to press for their demands that also include action against alleged irregularities by contractors.

However, they announced the suspension of their programme around 9:00am in front of the main gate of the port after receiving assurances at a meeting with port authorities that their demands will be addressed within one month.

Workers said the decision to suspend the agitation was also made considering the ongoing national budget period.

The protesting workers alleged that while the handling charge per tonne of goods at Benapole port has increased from Tk 33 in 2012 to Tk 78 in 2026, their wages remain unchanged at Tk 18 per tonne.

They demanded that manual workers’ wages be fixed at Tk 35 per tonne and Tk 30 for other categories of handling work.

General Secretary of Benapole Land Port Handling Workers Union Sahid Ali warned that if their demands are not met within the stipulated time, they will enforce a harsher indefinite strike.

Benapole Port Director Shamin Hossain said steps will be taken to resolve the issue.

Earlier, on Thursday, the workers announced the work abstention to press for their demands.