Waterways strike to continue
November 8, 2009
River communication is unlikely to resume today as the meeting between water transport workers and the government this evening went in vain.
After a meeting with Shipping Secretary (in-charge) Md Abdul Mannan Howlader, Bangladesh Noujan Sramik Federation General Secretary Chowdhury Ashiqul Alam said the strike would continue.
He said there must be a trilateral meeting comprising launch owners for a solution to the problem.
Waterways linking the capital with rest of the country came to a complete halt with thousands of people stranded at different terminals.
Around 1.5 lakh water transport workers under five labour organisations went off work Saturday midnight to press a 22-point demand including pay hike.
A number of passengers with bag and baggage are seen waiting for launches at Sadarghat launch terminal Sunday morning.
Additional police were deployed in the terminal to avoid any untoward situation.
Water transport movement remained suspended on all major routes including in the coastal districts of Barisal, Bhola, Barguna and Patuakhali, reports our Barisal correspondent.
Thousands of passengers were stranded at Barisal lunch terminal in the Barisal city, while hundreds returned home failing to board any launch.
Traders also were facing a severe crisis with their goods being stranding at the terminals.
The strike will continue until fulfilment of their demands, said Golam Mowla, president of Bangladesh Noujan Sramik Federation.
The demands include raising wages of the workers, stepping up security in the waterways to stop extortion and robbery, restoring navigability of the rivers and canals through regular dredging and checking corruption at the shipping department.
Sources in the labour bodies concerned claimed the workers have long been deprived of reasonable wages due to lack of sincerity of river transport owners and government officials.
Chowdhury Ashiqul Alam had earlier said, “We have been placing our demands since this government assumed office, but it all went in vain. Now we have no alternative but to go for strike action.”
Meanwhile, leaders of the federation and officials of Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA) held meetings on Thursday and Friday but could not reach any agreement.
Asked about this, Md Shafiqul Haque, BIWTA director (traffic), said, “It is a matter for the Directorate of Labour. We have no function here.”
The five labour organisations are Bangladesh Launch Labour Association, Rangamati Parbatya Zila Noujan Sramik Union, Samudrik Matshya Shikari Jahaj Sramik Union, Bangladesh Jahaj Sramik Sangha and Cargo-Trawler Sramik Union.
In related developments, different NGOs and other organisations including Green Club of Bangladesh, Save Waterway Implementation Movement, and Citizens Rights Movements expressed solidarity with the striking workers.
Source: thedailystar.net
Comments
Got something to say?
You must be logged in to post a comment.