At least 51 cargo vessels stranded at the outer berth of Chittagong Port following the ongoing strike of water transport workers in Chittgong.
Beside the strike of water transports, the activities of the fishing trawlers remained also idle. Port sources said , the loading unloading activities in the 15 inner berths of the port continuing without any obstructions but the activities in the outer berths remained stranded. In this situation of the strike of water transport workers in 16 river ghats(landing points) , the business community will have to face severe financial loss due to halting of the vessels in outer berths and embarkation of vessels from port to foreign destinations timely.
Most of the cargo vessels stranded at outer berths containing bulk cargos of wheat, sugar, cement clinkers, coal and urea fertilizers, sources said. Vice chairman of Bangladesh Shipping Agents association Ahsanul Hoque Chowdhury told that shipping business not satisfactory due to global recession and at the same time water transport workers strike will also hamper the sector to the maximum extents. Central General Secretary of Bangladesh Ligherage Sramik Union Md. Shahdat Hossain told that considering the miseries of the common people and HSC examinees, the strike of passenger vessel suspended till 10 May next.
He said in the ongoing meeting with the Shipping Minister, the problem may be resolved hoped. Bangladesh Water Transport Workers Federation called strike from Wednesday night, 16 river ghats of Karnaphuli River remained stranded .
The lighter vessels are taking berth in river channel with cargos from mother vessels but due to workers strike, the unloading remained stalled . Mentiona;ble that in the last meeting with the shipping Minsiter on January 26 last, a committee was formed which was supposed to resolve the crisis of the workers but after passing of 69 days, the committee could not find any solutions towards their demands. Lastly the federation leaders held meeting with the shipping minister for about 10 hours on Wednesday last b ut the matter not solved, sources said. As such, the water transport workers enforced s trike from midnight of Wednesday , sources said.
A federation sources said present lowest salary of lighter vessel workers is Tk.3000 only and they demanded minimum wages at Tk.7000 .
Sources said about 25 thousand lighter vessel workers are employed in this profession across the country except crews of different categories.
