WEB DESK
The water transport workers across Bangladesh started an indefinite strike from Sunday midnight in support of their 10-point charter of demands including fixing of the minimum wages at Taka 20,000.
The strike has affected the unloading of containers at the outer anchorage of Chattogram port and the bank of Karnaphuli river. Lightering workers have not gone to unload the larger vessels anchored near the port due to the strike, confirmed Md Omor Faruk, secretary of the Chattogram Port Authority to bdnews24.com newsagency.
No launches left Dhaka’s Sadarghat ferry due to the strike. In Bhola, most of the launches remained docked since morning causing immense difficulty to the passengers. Barisal also reported that no vessel has moved since the strike began on Sunday morning. In Chandpur, movement of launches including those plying on Chandpur-Dhaka route remained suspended from Sunday morning.
The main demand of workers includes minimum wages of Taka 20,000 per month and providing appointment letter, identity card and service book to workers. The water transport workers are also demanding social security measures like Contributory Provident Fund and Seafarer Welfare Fund to provide food and sea allowances, and providing Tk 10 lakh compensation for accident and death at work.