Md Joynal Abedin Khan :
Water transport workers started a nationwide indefinite strike on Tuesday to press home their 11-point demands, causing huge sufferings to passengers.
Thousands of passengers are rushing for vessels in Sadargaht, Mongla, Chattgram, Narayanganj and Chadpur river ports and other yards across the country.
A poor number of vessels were found to cruise on the concerned routes after getting assurance of the minister and owners to meet the 11-point demands of the strike campaigners, said Rezaul Karim, Officer-in-Charge (OC) of Sadarghat river Police.
At least 12 launches left Sadarghat for destinations till filing of the report around 8:30 pm on Tuesday, the OC said.
No vessels have left Sadarghat, a major river port that connects Dhaka with southern districts since Tuesday morning, said Dinesh Kumar Saha, Transport Inspector of Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority.
“Many passengers had arrived at Sadarghat in the morning, but they left as none of the launches was continuing operations,” some south-bound launches docked at the Sadarghat pontoon after vessels owners vowed to run the services in the afternoon.
“The workers have not called off their strike, but some launches have arrived at the pontoon,” said Dinesh
The MV Zahid 8, Ranadut, Farhan 3, 6, 10 and 12 and Rashed 1 and Tipu 7, bound for the south were seen in the pontoon.
The launches left Sadarghat between 5.15pm to 8:30pm, said Farook Hossain, Managing Director in MV Tipu-7.
In the meantime, thee launches left Chadpur yard for Sadarghat after 9 hours, reports our local Correpondent quoting local rive police.
Besides, more than eight vessels left Mongla port, report our local correspondent while workers at Khulna and Mongla ports also suspended sailing of all water transports, including good carriers since the midnight, said Delwar Hossain, General Secretary of the federation’s Khulna zone.
The workers also kept suspended loading and unloading of goods at the ports, he said.
Contacted, Bangladesh Water Transport Workers’ Federation President Shah Alam Bhuiyan said that the workers announced the strike following a meeting with the Shipping Ministry held on Monday night.
The workers will continue their strike despite the owners’ decision to operate the water transports, said Mostafizur Rahman, captain of Mitali Launch.
“We’re continuing our strike. Some of the owners have initiated to operate the vessels, he said.
Earlier, the workers under the banner of Bangladesh Water Transport Workers’ Federation began the strike at 12:01am on Tuesday, said Chowdhury Ashikul Alam, General Secretary of the federation.
Following the strike, the workers suspended sailing of all types of passenger and goods-laden vessels from Sadarghat, Khulna, Monga and Chandpur ports.
The demands include taking action against terrorism and extortion, stopping of workers’ harassment, full implementation of pay scale 2016, providing Tk 10 lakh compensation for any injury of a worker and cracking down robbery on the river routes.
The move came after the workers refused to take part at a meeting with the Labour Ministry as “the ministry also invited the people involved with extortion and harassment”, Ashikul said. On February 27, the workers gave an ultimatum of going on a strike if their demands are not met within March 20, he added.
Water transport workers started a nationwide indefinite strike on Tuesday to press home their 11-point demands, causing huge sufferings to passengers.
Thousands of passengers are rushing for vessels in Sadargaht, Mongla, Chattgram, Narayanganj and Chadpur river ports and other yards across the country.
A poor number of vessels were found to cruise on the concerned routes after getting assurance of the minister and owners to meet the 11-point demands of the strike campaigners, said Rezaul Karim, Officer-in-Charge (OC) of Sadarghat river Police.
At least 12 launches left Sadarghat for destinations till filing of the report around 8:30 pm on Tuesday, the OC said.
No vessels have left Sadarghat, a major river port that connects Dhaka with southern districts since Tuesday morning, said Dinesh Kumar Saha, Transport Inspector of Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority.
“Many passengers had arrived at Sadarghat in the morning, but they left as none of the launches was continuing operations,” some south-bound launches docked at the Sadarghat pontoon after vessels owners vowed to run the services in the afternoon.
“The workers have not called off their strike, but some launches have arrived at the pontoon,” said Dinesh
The MV Zahid 8, Ranadut, Farhan 3, 6, 10 and 12 and Rashed 1 and Tipu 7, bound for the south were seen in the pontoon.
The launches left Sadarghat between 5.15pm to 8:30pm, said Farook Hossain, Managing Director in MV Tipu-7.
In the meantime, thee launches left Chadpur yard for Sadarghat after 9 hours, reports our local Correpondent quoting local rive police.
Besides, more than eight vessels left Mongla port, report our local correspondent while workers at Khulna and Mongla ports also suspended sailing of all water transports, including good carriers since the midnight, said Delwar Hossain, General Secretary of the federation’s Khulna zone.
The workers also kept suspended loading and unloading of goods at the ports, he said.
Contacted, Bangladesh Water Transport Workers’ Federation President Shah Alam Bhuiyan said that the workers announced the strike following a meeting with the Shipping Ministry held on Monday night.
The workers will continue their strike despite the owners’ decision to operate the water transports, said Mostafizur Rahman, captain of Mitali Launch.
“We’re continuing our strike. Some of the owners have initiated to operate the vessels, he said.
Earlier, the workers under the banner of Bangladesh Water Transport Workers’ Federation began the strike at 12:01am on Tuesday, said Chowdhury Ashikul Alam, General Secretary of the federation.
Following the strike, the workers suspended sailing of all types of passenger and goods-laden vessels from Sadarghat, Khulna, Monga and Chandpur ports.
The demands include taking action against terrorism and extortion, stopping of workers’ harassment, full implementation of pay scale 2016, providing Tk 10 lakh compensation for any injury of a worker and cracking down robbery on the river routes.
The move came after the workers refused to take part at a meeting with the Labour Ministry as “the ministry also invited the people involved with extortion and harassment”, Ashikul said. On February 27, the workers gave an ultimatum of going on a strike if their demands are not met within March 20, he added.
