Hasan Mahmud :The plying of river vessels was found normal on the fifth day of the indefinite strike called by the Water Transport Workers Sangram Parishad. About 85 river vessels arrived at the Sadarghat Launch Terminal and left for their destinations including Barisal, Chandpur on Saturday. It was learnt that on Friday about 77 launches and on Thursday about 92 launches left from and arrived at the Sadarghat Launch Terminal.According to Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA), the launch movement across the country did not suffer, even due to the strike.”The ongoing movement had hardly any impact on waterways communication across the country. Vessel movements resumed in the afternoon on the first day of the strike and have remained normal till date”, said BIWTA. In the meantime, Convener of the Water Transport Workers Sangram Parishad Ohidul Islam Bulbul said, “We will continue our strike if our demands are not fulfilled.”The Sangram Parishad called the strike on Tuesday to press home their four-point demands including fixing of minimum wage of transport workers at Tk 10,000, re-fixing of the rate of compensation for workers killed in accidents, stern steps against theft, terrorism and extortion and preservation of the navigability of rivers.
