The loading unloading of the consignments from lighter vessels resumes in all 16 river berths in Karnaphuli river after passing of 5 days in Chittagong from yesterday.
Following the suspension of strike of the lighter workers from Saturday midnight , the workers resume to their respective duties in all river berths from early yesterday. Mentionable that ghat labourers enforced indefinite strike to press home their 7 point demands including increase of wages from tuesdaylast. The strike was postponed following the tripartite meeting of owners, workers, and govt officials at Labour directorate office in Dhaka on Saturday , the five day long strike was postponed from midnight.
Director of Labour Directorate Joint secretary SM Ashrafuzaman told that after assurance of the owners to incrase the wages of the ghat labourers, the strike was withdrawn.
General secretary of Bangladesh Lighter sramik Union Nabi Alam told that the workers agreed on enhanced wage of Tk.9600.
He said there are 16 berths(river ghats) from Sadarghat to Banglabazar on north bank of river Karnaphuli and the workers resumes in duty and engaged in unloading of cargo from the lighter vessels from early morning. Executive Director of Water Transport cell – a controlling body of the private owned lighter vessel Mahbub Rashid Khan told the media that strike withdrawn and after meeting with the labour leaders , the lighter vessels sailed for outer berth for loading cargo from mother vessels at outer berth of the ctg port.
Port sources said 18 bulk cargo vessels, 3 foodgrain vessels,7 fertilizer laden vessels, 24 clinker vessels, 3 sugar, 2 salt vessels were waiting in outer berths and due to strike these vessels remained stranded till Saturday.
Besides, nine container vessels are also waiting in outer, sources said. Following the withdrawal of strike, the importers, exporters, traders, industrial entrepreneurs expressed graduate, sources added.
