AS PER the report of almost all the dailies on Friday, Bangladesh Noujan Sramik Federation (BNSF) called an indefinite strike to realise their demands, which include demands for a Tk. 10,000 minimum wage and an increase in other benefits. Due to the strike movement of all kinds of river transports like launches, trawlers, barges, tankers, lighters remains suspended causing immense sufferings to the passengers. Movement to the south western region has almost come to a stop through the river routes. Experts said that the continuation of this strike will affect the market price of the essential commodities, as water transports are used to carry fuel and other necessary items in the riverine southern region.The workers had observed similar strikes several times in the past one year to press for the same 15-point charter of demands. But they withdrew every time as the government promised to consider their demands. Having no other alternatives, the Federation decided to observe the strike again. The passengers from different areas have become the victims of the strike. In Bangladesh, which is criss-crossed with rivers, the riverine system is a popular and cheaper mode of transportation. So, the authorities concerned should take immediate measures to end the strike.The demand of Launch workers to hike their wages and other benefits are logical; that needs to be resolved but workers must also take the sufferings of the passengers into account. There is the negligence of the government to address workers’ demands it promised repeatedly but failed to deliver. So, the grievance of Launch workers has reached the climax. Now, it is the responsibility of both the government and the launch owners to consider and fulfill the workers’ demands. General people cannot suffer due to carelessness of the Launch owners and government. Government has already increased the salaries of public employees last year. In this context, that created further income gap. So government cannot skip the demands of Launch workers to hike their wages and other benefits. Experts say that large amounts of money is spent to pay the government employees. But how would the government fulfill the demands of Launch workers is the question. One way may be to hike passengers fare. But it will also face resistance. That’s why the government is sidetracking the demands of Launch workers to grow it as a bigger problem.The authorities know how to spend people’s money and bemuse people without solving the problems. Let them do it again. The government is for few, so let them live well with public money. But it cannot be anymore as the cost of living has gone up.
