The officials, employees and workers of Barisal City Corporation withdrew their indefinite strike yesterday.

Around 1,600 temporary workers and 541 class II and III employees had been continuing the strike since February 17, demanding outstanding salaries of six months.

The decision came following a meeting with BCC Mayor Ahsan Habib Kamal, ward councillors and Barisal Deputy Commissioner Md Habibur Rahaman.

After the meeting the mayor announced before the media and staff members that the BCC authorities will pay them two months' salaries with three months' provident fund.

Dipak Lal Mridha, leader of the workers, said following the assurance the called off the strike.

The rest of the arrears will be paid gradually, he added.

All the staff members joined their work yesterday.

Earlier, this correspondent, while visiting different areas, found dustbins overflowing with garbage, contributing to environmental pollution as those had remained uncollected for over a month. The city dwellers had to suffer a lot.

Rasel Khan, social welfare officer of BCC, said they had demonstrated four times during the last two years demanding due salaries.

The salaries are paid from the BCC's own fund, said officials.

Acknowledging all the facts, city Mayor Ahsan Habib Kamal blamed limited revenue income of the city corporation for such a situation.

The income is no match for such a huge number of employees, he said.