Dhaka: Hours after issuing a threat to go on strike from the 1st Ramadan, Bangladesh Meat Merchants' Association (BMMA) on Sunday suspended their plan following a meeting with the Commerce Minister.

"We've promised we won't go on strike as Commerce Minister Tafail Ahmed assured us of resolving our problem," BMMA president Rabiul Alam told a press briefing at the Secretariat after the meeting.

Earlier in the day, the BMMA threatened to go on strike from the 1st Ramadan if the government does not take any steps to resolve their problem within 15 days.

The BMMA president made the announcement at a press conference at Dhaka Reporter's Unity (DRU) around 11:30 am.

At the press conference, he said many meat shops are being closed due to the higher prices of beef and illegal extortion.

Later, Rabiul Alam joined a meeting at the Secretariat where he urged the Commerce Minister to set up a cattle market under the Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC).

"As there's only one cattle market in the capital, we're being compelled to go there for buying cattle where we face harassment in many ways. If the government takes an initiative to set up a cattle market in the DSCC area then half of the problem will get resolved," said Rabiul.

Meanwhile, Commerce Minister Tofail Ahmed said, "I'll sit with the traders and the two city mayors to solve the problem."