Khan Mosharraf Hossain, a spokesman for Biman, confirmed that the carrier had not been able to operate any of its flights but added that negotiations were taking place in a bid to end the dispute.

Biman's main union called the strike to demand a hike in wages, improved benefits and for hundreds of temporary workers to be made full-time.

"After they enforced the strike, no flight could take off from the airport," said Nazmul Anam, a director of the country's civil aviation authority.

Anam said three international flights did manage to land in the early morning but passengers were still stuck in the airport as they could not retrieve their luggage.

"The civil aviation minister is in the airport talking with the union leaders as we speak," he told AFP.