UNB, Chittagong :
Bangladesh Lighterage Sramik Union, an association of the lighterage vessel workers, went on an indefinite strike across the country on Saturday to press home their several demands, including that their security be ensured on the waterways.
Abu Taher, President of the Union announced the strike from a meeting on Friday night.
Loading and unloading of goods remained halted as lighterage vessels lay anchored at the outer anchorage in Chittagong port due to the strike since morning.
Earlier, a gang of pirates swooped on a Sirajganj-bound fertiliser-laden lighterage vessel when it reached Batirkhal in Laxmipur district on Friday and looted the fertiliser.
Seven workers of the vessel out of 10 went missing during the incident, said Abu Taher.
As the authorities concerned did not pay any heed to their demands, despite repeated requests, they decided to enforce the strike, said the union president.
Their union is firm to continue the strike until they see all their demands met, he added.
Two jailed for selling liquor
A mobile court yesterday sentenced two persons to three months imprisonment each for selling locally manufactured liquor.
They were identified as Abul Kalam alias Ishaque, 50, and Yakub, 52. Mohammad Mohsin, officer-in-charge of Bakalia police station, said Bakalia police arrested the two persons from Balir Hat area of the city while they were selling locally manufactured liquor illegally.
Later, police produced them before a mobile court where district executive magistrate Ashraful Alam sentenced them to three months imprisonment each.
Bangladesh Lighterage Sramik Union, an association of the lighterage vessel workers, went on an indefinite strike across the country on Saturday to press home their several demands, including that their security be ensured on the waterways.
Abu Taher, President of the Union announced the strike from a meeting on Friday night.
Loading and unloading of goods remained halted as lighterage vessels lay anchored at the outer anchorage in Chittagong port due to the strike since morning.
Earlier, a gang of pirates swooped on a Sirajganj-bound fertiliser-laden lighterage vessel when it reached Batirkhal in Laxmipur district on Friday and looted the fertiliser.
Seven workers of the vessel out of 10 went missing during the incident, said Abu Taher.
As the authorities concerned did not pay any heed to their demands, despite repeated requests, they decided to enforce the strike, said the union president.
Their union is firm to continue the strike until they see all their demands met, he added.
Two jailed for selling liquor
A mobile court yesterday sentenced two persons to three months imprisonment each for selling locally manufactured liquor.
They were identified as Abul Kalam alias Ishaque, 50, and Yakub, 52. Mohammad Mohsin, officer-in-charge of Bakalia police station, said Bakalia police arrested the two persons from Balir Hat area of the city while they were selling locally manufactured liquor illegally.
Later, police produced them before a mobile court where district executive magistrate Ashraful Alam sentenced them to three months imprisonment each.
