Staff Reporter :Waterways came to a halt following a non-stop strike called by the river transport workers across the country since Wednesday midnight to press home their 15-point demand.Operations at river ports and passenger terminals have been disrupted after the indefinite strike, according to reports received from our district correspondents. Bangladesh Noujan Sramik Federation (BNSF) called the indefinite strike to realise their demands, including Tk 10,000 minimum wage and increase of other benefits.Due to the strike movement of all kinds of river transports like launch, trawler, barge, tanker, lighter remains suspended causing immense sufferings to the passengers, particularly who are from the Southern Bengal. BWTWF President Shah Alam said that no passenger-carrying vessels left from Dhaka’s Sadarghat terminal since the strike started.He said that Shipping Minister Shajahan Khan on January 26 assured them of meeting their demand by 30 days “But the government is yet to take any measures in this regard and for this, the federation decided to observe the strike,” he added.Regarding their meeting with Shajahan Khan on Wednesday, he said, “We had a meeting with him on the day (Wednesday). We have called the strike as the meeting failed to reach an understanding.”Bangladesh Jahaji Shramik Federation (BJSF) President Shukku Mahmud said that operations of all kinds of cargo vessels have also been stopped Vessels in Barisal, Chandpur and other places, where waterways is the main mode of transport, remained anchored at terminals since Wednesday midnight, he said. 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.”We are here (Sadarghat terminal) from the noon for going to Daulatkhan (Bhola district). But there are no vessels. The sun has reclined in the west, but we do not know how long shall we wait?” said Abdul Latif, a passenger, who came from Gazipur. Operations at river ports and passenger terminals across the country were disrupted on the first day of the nonstop strike.The BRTWF leaders said that their strike will continue until the realization of their 15-point demands, including wage hike, job and life security. Contrarily, the vessel owners announced to operate their vessels for the passengers’ convenient. The chief advisor of launch owner association Golam Kibria Tipu said on Thursday at Sadarghat BIWTA terminal that the passenger carrying launches would operate from the afternoon of the day.Bangladesh Water Transport Workers’ Federation (BWTWF) President Shah Alam said that they wanted increase in their monthly wage to Tk 8,250 from Tk 4,100 considering the current prices of commodities. But Golam Kibria Tipu, chief advisor of the launch malik samity, claimed that there was no problem with the workers of the passenger carrying vessels. There is some sort of problems with the workers of goods, oil carrying ships and cargo vessels,” he said.But Shah Alam differed and said “Our main problem is the wage of the workers of the passenger carrying vessels.” The passengers from different areas became the victims of the strike. Wahiduzzaman Babu working at Tangail district wanted to go to his village home in Barisal. When he reached the Sadarghat terminal at noon, he came to know all about the strike. From noon to the afternoon, there were no launches for going to Barisal or any other place,” he said. He was then leaving Sadarghat terminal for Naybazar to catch a bus for Mawa to go to Barisal by buses. A female passenger named Dipika Rani Chakraborty waiting at the Sadarghat was looking dejected and despaired. She said, “I am from Uttarkhan of Uttara with my two minor daughters and my old mother. Banaripara of Barisal is our destination. But now we came to know that the workers have gone on strike. We have no any male member with us. I am now undecided what to do. Shall I wait here for more time or shall go back to Uttarkhan. I am undone.” Many of the passengers were seen to leave the Sadarghat terminal with lots of bags and packets of huge goods. They moved to Nayabazar and other bus stands to catch buses for their destinations. After the announcement of Golam Kibria Tipu, some passenger vessels were seen coming to the Sadarghat terminal at 2:20pm. Of them were MV Farhan-4 for Dhaka to Hatya of Noakhali via Chandpur, MV Farhan-6 for Dhaka to Charfashion of Bhola, MV Farhan-2 for Dhaka to Bhola and MV Farhan-8 for Dhaka to Barisal.Meanwhile the BIWTC officials announced that they had managed two steamers for the passenger going to Chandpur, Barisal and Bagerhat, said BIWTC Assistant General Manager Shah Barkatullah at Sadarghat terminal at noon.The passengers for various destinations said it was fewer than the regular vessels. The vessel inspector of BIWTC Md. Hetayetullah told The New Nation that no vessel arrived or left the terminal since morning. But four vessels of MV Farhan groups were closing to the terminal in the evening for departing for different destinations. Our Barisal Correspondent adds: The workers of Bangladesh River Transport Workers Federation began the nonstop strike from Wednesday midnight to press home their 15-point demands.The demands include revision of pay scale, increase of allowances and benefits, fixation of Tk 10,000 as minimum salary per month, issuance of appointment letter and maintenance of service book, provisions of compensations for deaths or injuries of workers in accident, 8-hour duty and over-time bill, introduction of safe navigation and transportation system by capital dredging, maintenance of powerful salvage vessel, navigation markings of the river routes and curbing piracy.A large number of passengers were found stranded at different water transport stations and river ports of the region facing tremendous problems, especially in the river isolated areas, due to river transport workers strike.Engine boats and trawlers were charging higherfare from the passengers, taking the advantage of launch strike, said Abdul Huq, one of the passengers standing at the Barisal river port.Hosne Ara, wife of a day labourer, who was searching for alternative transport at Barisal river port to reach Bhola with her family members, went to the bus station. She said, all the buses were jam-packed and it was impossible for her to avail any of those.Abdul Rob, a non government service holder, who was waiting at Barisal river port, said that he urgently needed to reach Bhola and as such he rented under duress a costly speed boat to reach his destination. Sikder Abul Hashem, Barisal unit President of Noujan Sramik Federation, said no water transport was cruising from Barisal port and they would continue their strike until the realizations of their legitimate demands.Saidur Rahaman Rintu, Vice-President, Bangladesh Launch Owners Assocision, said, “We want to operate our launches, but the workers forced us to suspend operation of our vessels. The continuation of this strike will also affect the market price of the essential commodities, as water transports are used to carry fuel and other necessary items in riverine southern region, said Rintu, president of Barisal Chamber of Commerce and Industries.However , Syed Abul Kalam Azad, Assistant General Manager of the State owned Bangladesh Water Transport Corporation, said, BIWTC are operating vessels as per schedule to meet the emergency.
