Bangladesh waterway work abstention called off

Waterway work abstention was called off late Saturday about 24 hours after workers went on the protests early on the day causing immense sufferings to the passengers and halting loading and unloading at sea and river ports in Bangladesh.

Waterway workers withdraw their countrywide work abstention, said Department of Labour director general AKM Mizanur Rahman after a meeting between the government and workers.

He said that the protesting workers made announcement after a meeting with the officials of labour and employment ministry at the department at Motijheel in Dhaka Saturday night.

Leaders of the Bangladesh Noujan Sramik Federation attended the meeting.

Passengers suffered immensely and business activities hampered severely on Saturday as thousands of waterways workers went for a countrywide work abstention demanding appointment letters, food allowance, provident and welfare funds for them.

Movement of all passenger vessels remained snapped at all river terminals including Sadarghat, Barishal and Khulna while passengers in south and south-western districts were among the worst sufferers.

Loading and unloading activities at inland ports of Chattogram, Khulna, Noapara and Baghabari also remained closed.

Businesspeople feared rise in the prices of commodities if the work abstention continues.

The protesting workers under the banner of Bangladesh Noujan Shramik Federation also brought out processions at different districts in support of their work abstention.  

The federation president Shah Alam Bhuiyan earlier told New Age that they did not receive any response from water transport owners about fulfilling their demands.

The workers called the work abstention to press their 11-point demands including initiatives to full implementation of 2016 pay scale, adopting an appointment system, end intimidation, extortion and robbery on the waterways, providing identification cards and service books to waterways workers, stopping corruption and harassment in enrolment examinations, in distribution and renewal process of certificates of masters and other workers and in inspection process, Tk 10 lakh as compensation for the family of any worker in case of death in the workplace or in an accident as well as providing landing passes and stopping harassment of India-bound workers.

They also demanded food allowance for all workers, re-fixing of technical allowances, sea allowances for workers working at Chattogram, Mongla and Payra ports’ outer parts, ensure social security of the workers, and setting up marks, lights and buoys to ensure safe and protected navigation in waterways.

At Sadarghat terminal in Dhaka, the workers brought out a procession for making their work abstention successful while a few number of vessels started from the terminal in the morning.

Chittagong Port Authority secretary Mohammad Omar Faruk told New Age that the work abstention did not hamper activities at the port’s jetty.

However, activities of 57 lighterage ships were hampered at the outer areas of the port, he said. 

New Age correspondent in Barishal reported that operations of all kinds of  passenger and cargo vessels on all river routes in districts including Barishal, Bhola,Patuakhali, Barguna, Jhalakathi, Pirojpur were halted due to the work abstention.

A huge number of passengers were found stranded at Barishal launch terminal while they were compelled to reach destinations by alternative ways like boarding on risky manual or mechanised boats and road transports.

Nasima Anowar, a passenger at the terminal, said she failed to avail any transport for going to Mehendiganj since morning.

Madhusudhan Mandal, another person at the terminal, said he had to join office in Dhaka but yet to manage any bus ticket due to huge demand.

The federation’s Barishal unit president Sheikh Abul Hashem said they would continue the work abstention till their demands were met.

Bangladesh Launch Owner’s Association vice-president Saidur Rahman Rintu said they requested workers to join their works as the owners were sympathetic to their demands.

Bangladesh Noujan Shramik Federation vice-president Baharul Islam Bahar said 10 to 15 thousand launch workers, more than 1,000 ship workers, four to five thousand dredger workers and another four to five thousand lighter, tanker and coaster workers joined the work abstention at Khulna-Mongla and Noapara river port areas since early hours of Saturday, reports New Age correspondent in Khulna.

Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority’s Khulna office deputy director Masud Parvez told New Age that no launches left the terminal while loading and unloading activities at Khulna and Noapara river ports were snapped.  

At Khulna river port, workers brought out processions in the morning and in the afternoon and chanted slogans for meeting their demands.

The workers also brought out processions at Noapara area in the afternoon and held a rally at Noapara bus stand area attended by Bangladesh Launch Labour Association leaders and activists.

New Age correspondent in Sirajganj reported around 500 workers joined the work abstention at Baghabari river port since morning. Loading and unloading of products including fertiliser, fuel oil and coal remained stopped all the day. Goods laden vessels coming from Chattogram and other ports were seen anchored. 

Uttaranchal Tank-Lorry Sramik Union leader Md Shahjahan Siraj said crisis of fertiliser and diesel could be seen in 16 northern districts in the current Irri-Boro season.

The workers brought out processions, held rallies and human chains at the area.

New Age correspondent in Manikganj reported that launch movement on Paturia-Daulatdia route remained normal throughout the day.

However passengers’ pressure on this river route increased after morning due to strike at other areas. 

Earlier on November 27, a section of waterways workers under the banner of Noujan Shramik Odhikar Sangrakkhan Oikya Parishad enforced a day-long strike without prior notice to press their 15-point demands.

News Courtesy: www.newagdbd.net