Strike halts water transport movement

Inland water transport workers’ indefinite countrywide strike from the early hours of Thursday caused untold sufferings to millions of travellers, particularly those who got stranded with wives and children at different places.
The strike halted movement of passenger and cargo carriers on all inland water routes.
The resultant cargo handling stoppage at Chittagong and Mongla sea ports caused staggering losses to exporters and importers and the government’s revenue earning.
Bangladesh Water Transport Workers’ Federation called the strike demanding increased wages and the realisation of 14 other demands.
Speaking at a programme on scientific teaching of the Holy Quran at Ashulia, shipping minister Shajahan Khan said it was unfair on the part of the workers to call the strike keeping the passengers hostages.
He urged the water transport owners and the workers to reach an understanding through negotiations and end the strike.
The demands which prompted the strike include payment of bonuses on profits, increased allowances, appointment letters to all the workers, compensations in the events of deaths or injuries in accidents, eight-hour duty and over-time for extra duty.
The other demands require the government to dredge the rivers and properly marking the river routes to ensure safe navigation, introduction of powerful salvage vessels and curbing piracy on inland waterways.
The strike was called to increase the minimum wage of passenger and cargo carrying vessel workers to Tk 10,000 from Tk 2,800, BWTWF president Md Shah Alam Bhuiyan told New Age.
The strike halted transportation of exportable and imported cargo between the Chittagong port and the rest of the country, reports New Age correspondent in Chittagong.
The strike rendered idle at least 1,500 vessels, including oil tankers, fishing and cargo vessels at 16 ghats along the Karnaphuli and other rivers flowing through Chittagong, says the report.
No unloading from at least 42 ships took place as no lighter vessel went to the outer anchorage, port officials told him.

Boys dive in the river of Buriganga from the pontoon of Sadarghat launch terminal in the capital on Thursday amid an indefinite strike called by the workers of the waterways to realise their 15-point demand. — Indrajit Ghosh

Cargo handling at Chittagong Port jetties was slower than usual.
The striker held rallies at Bangla Bazar Ghat and Panir Ghat areas in the port city Thursday afternoon.
New Age correspondent in Khulna reported that no loading and unloading took place at the Mongla sea port.
Mongla Port Authority officials said that eight ships carrying imported clinker, coal, re-conditioned cars, machinery and liquefied petroleum gas were waiting to unload at the outer anchorage.
Importer Syed Zahid Hossain said that the strike was causing huge losses to all the port users.
No passenger vessel left the Sadarghat terminal until Thursday afternoon.
Later in the day, two launches left Sadarghat, said Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority joint director (traffic) Jainal Abedin.
He said that 50 launches arrived Sadarghat throughout the day.
He said two steamers of BIWTC and 12 privately owned passenger launches left Sadarghat by 9 PM.
New Age correspondent in Barisal reported that no movement of passenger and cargo vessels took place to and from Barisal throughout the day.
Operators of engine boats and trawlers earned extra money by ferrying passengers on different southern routes said Abdul Huq, one of the many travellers who had to pay high fares for the risky voyage from Barisal.
Steamers owned by BIWTC plied on the schedule , said the state owned transport service’s assistant general manager Syed Abul Kalam Azad.
He said that there was an unusual rush of passengers for the BIWTC vessels.
New Age correspondent in Bhola reported that no vessel left Bhola since Thursday morning.
New Age correspondent in Chandpur reported that no passenger and cargo vessel plied to and from Chandpur on 10 routes.
Shah Alam said that the strike called on April 10 would continue until the demands were met.
Movement of vessels took place since Bangladesh Inland Waterways Passenger Carrier’s Association, representing the highest number of launch owners, announced in the afternoon, that the owners were determined to operate their vessels.
BIWPCA chief adviser Golam Kibria Tipu, MP, made the announcement.
Tipu told New Age that no passenger vessel worker was participating in the strike called by cargo vessel workers.
The shipping minister held day long meetings with the owners and the workers Wednesday but failed to make any breakthrough.
The owners held meetings Thursday to discuss the issues involving extra payments they have to make to meet the workers’ demands.
But no meetings took place between the owners and the workers Thursday.

News Courtesy: www.newagebd.net