People suffer amid river transport strike

People suffered immeasurably, especially those stranded with family members at different places, as inland water transport workers enforced indefinite countrywide strike from early Tuesday.
No passenger and cargo carriers operated on any inland water routes.
As a result, cargo handling remained stalled at Chittagong and Mongla sea ports, causing losses to exporters and importers.
Nou Sramik Sangram Parishad called the strike demanding that minimum wage should be set at Tk 10,000 and realisation of 14 other demands.
Shipping minister Shajahan Khan on Tuesday told reporters that the ministry talked with labour ministry for solving the matter.
He said that that government settled the issue setting minimum wage in April but the situation worsened as the owners of river transports filed case against the government decision.
He also said that the government could take legal action against the demonstrators as they stated the strike without holding any talks with the authorities.
Nou Sramik Sangram Parishad convener Bulbul Ahmed told New Age that they did not talk to the government as they were on movement for long.
He also said that their strike was going on peacefully and none from the government and the owners talked to them till Tuesday.
New Age correspondent in Chittagong reported that the strike halted transportation of exportable and imported cargo between the Chittagong port and the rest of the country.
Food and other cargo that had been unloaded from mother vessels to lighter smaller ships lie stranded at the port.
Long distance travellers, who had no idea of the strike, suffered immensely.
In Khulna reported that no loading and unloading took place at the Mongla sea port.
New Age correspondent in Barisal reported that no movement of passenger and cargo vessels took place to and from Barisal throughout the day.
River transport workers held demonstrations at Barisal launch terminal in support of their strike.
Hundreds of porters, hawkers, small traders dependent on river port activities could not make any earning due to strike.
Passengers, especially those in the river-isolated areas of southern region, traders and businessmen, daily passengers, patients suffered due to the strike.

News Courtesy: www.newagebd.net