Strike on waterways called off

Water transport workers withdrew the countrywide strike yesterday after being assured of fulfilment of their demands.

The withdrawal of the strike was announced around 1:00pm after a tripartite meeting at the shipping ministry between water vessel owners, workers and the government representatives.

A 16-member committee was formed at the meeting, presided over by acting Shipping Secretary Abdul Mannan Hawlader.

The committee was asked to submit a report by next two months on how the demands of the workers would be met.

Director Lokman Hakim Talukder and joint labour director of labour directorate have been made as the convener and the member secretary of the committee. The other members on the committee are six each from owners and workers bodies, and one each from shipping department and BIWTA.

Following the meeting, Abdul told reporters that the strike had been withdrawn considering people's interest.

In accordance with a contract signed in the meeting, the labour directorate will announce a wage structure for the water transport workers by next two months, he said.

Chairman of BIWTA Mahbubuddin Ahmed said all the rational demands would be fulfilled through negotiation.

Chowdhury Ashiqul Alam, general secretary of Bangladesh Noujan Sramik Federation, called on the workers to resume their duties.

"We will make an effort to recover losses incurred during the strike," he said.

TM Giasuddin, president of Bangladesh Oil Tanker Association, MP Golam Sarwar Tipu, Md Shah Alam, vice president of Bangladesh Noujan Sramik Federation, and BIWTA chairman MA Malek Miah, among others, attended the meeting.

Movement of water craft resumed at Shadarghat launch terminal around 2:00pm immediately after announcement of the withdrawal.

Our Barisal and Chandpur correspondents reported that launches were operating normally from 2:00pm yesterday.

Around 1.5 lakh water transport workers under five labour organisations began the indefinite strike at 12:00midnight on Saturday to press home their 22-point demand.

The demands include raising wages of the workers, stepping up security on waterways to stop extortion and robbery, restoring navigability of rivers and canals through regular dredging and checking corruption at shipping department.

Sources concerned in the labour bodies claimed the workers have long been deprived of reasonable wages due to lack of sincerity of transport owners and the government officials.

The five 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.

Meanwhile, another water transport workers' association, Bangladeshi Jahaji Sramik Feredation, called off their strike scheduled for November 12 yesterday.