Meat traders to sit with Tofail SundayMeat traders in the capital said they will respond to the call of commerce minister Tofail Ahmed by holding a meeting with him on Sunday to realise their various demands.

Bangladesh Meat Traders Association (BMTA) secretary general Rabiul Alam at a press conference at Dhaka Reporters' Unity on Friday said, "We will not float fresh programmes. We hope to realise our demands through the discussion".

"We will observe our 6-day strike till Saturday in the capital".

Meat traders started strike since last Monday to realise their 4-point demands including stopping collection of excess tax in the cattle market at Gabtali in Dhaka and removal of the chief executive officer in the North City Corporation.

Meat shops at different kitchen markets were shut due to the enforcement of strike. As a result, the prices of chicken have gone up in Dhaka.

"Now we are not going for a fresh programme. We hope we will realise our demands after holding a meeting with the commerce ministry and the NCC on Sunday," Rabiul Alam told the press conference.

He threatened that the countrywide strike will be enforced if demands are not met.

Rabiul assured that the price of meat will go down Tk 400 per kg if all demands are met. If cattles are brought through legal channel from abroad, the price will go down Tk 300 per kg, he added.

RI