Chittagong Bureau :
A sporadic clash in between two groups of ghat sramiks broke out in Chittagong on second day of their work shut down begins from Sunday to press home their demands.
The incident broke out in Anu Majirghat of Karnaphuli river at about 10 am but none was injured critically. The loading , unloading in 12 ghats( landing berth of inland vessels) out of 16 ghats in river Karnaphuli remain stranded , a reliable sources. A section of the Ghat Sramik Sangram Committee sources said loading, unloading is continuing in 4 ghats and partial in other ghats. Ghat sramik enforced indefinite strike from Sunday morning demanding fulfillment of 10 points demands including hike of wages. But a small faction of the labourers opposing their strike programs .
A ghat sramik leader sources said about 66 lighter vessels now stranded in these river ghats with loading of essential commodities of about 1 lakh tons . These ligher vessels are loaded with commodities from mother vessels anchored in outer berth aimed at carrying to inland berth(ghat). While contacted convenor of the Sangram Committee Idrish Ali said as per agreement with the stevedoring contracting organisations , they are supposed to get 20% wage hike from January last but 11 months already passed without any increase of wages. Now they launched strike program demanding 50% wages hike. On the other hand Lighter vessels owners sources said the ghat sramiks of Chittagong are getting double rate of wages than the ghat sramiks of Dhaka.
A sporadic clash in between two groups of ghat sramiks broke out in Chittagong on second day of their work shut down begins from Sunday to press home their demands.
The incident broke out in Anu Majirghat of Karnaphuli river at about 10 am but none was injured critically. The loading , unloading in 12 ghats( landing berth of inland vessels) out of 16 ghats in river Karnaphuli remain stranded , a reliable sources. A section of the Ghat Sramik Sangram Committee sources said loading, unloading is continuing in 4 ghats and partial in other ghats. Ghat sramik enforced indefinite strike from Sunday morning demanding fulfillment of 10 points demands including hike of wages. But a small faction of the labourers opposing their strike programs .
A ghat sramik leader sources said about 66 lighter vessels now stranded in these river ghats with loading of essential commodities of about 1 lakh tons . These ligher vessels are loaded with commodities from mother vessels anchored in outer berth aimed at carrying to inland berth(ghat). While contacted convenor of the Sangram Committee Idrish Ali said as per agreement with the stevedoring contracting organisations , they are supposed to get 20% wage hike from January last but 11 months already passed without any increase of wages. Now they launched strike program demanding 50% wages hike. On the other hand Lighter vessels owners sources said the ghat sramiks of Chittagong are getting double rate of wages than the ghat sramiks of Dhaka.
Narayangonj, Noakhali, Bairab inland terminals. But their present is unjustified. Meanwhile President of ghat contractors samity Md. Abul Hashem told this reporter that some outsiders have called this strike beyound their opinions.
He also admits that out of 16 ghats, only loading, unloading continuing in 4 ghats only. Advisor of the Ghat Gudam sramik Union Mahbubul Hoque chowdhury said the issue of wage hike is our long felt demand but the stevedors not heed to our demands since long.
