Talks yield no results

The ongoing deadlock situation in waterways continued yesterday for the third consecutive day as the government's efforts to end the crisis through discussion with vessel owners and workers failed.

Officials of the Department of Labour in last two days separately sat with the vessel owners and workers, which bore no fruit as both workers and owners remained rigid in their stance.

Water transport workers went on an indefinite work abstention since Tuesday demanding, among others, Tk 10,000 as the minimum monthly wage, which the owners are denying citing that they will not be able to operate vessels meeting their demand.

Meanwhile, some businessmen have begun illegal operation of small boats and trawlers at the 9,000km “Danger Zone” where a ban is enforced between March 15 and October 15 every year.

Yesterday, the labour department officials sat with the vessel owners at its conference room in the capital.

“The owners placed some proposals, which we are scrutinising. We will separately sit with the workers again…,” said SM Ashrafauzzaman, director of the labour department.

“The time of the meeting is yet to be finalised,” he told The Daily Star after the meeting.

The 15-point demand include increasing overtime pay, festival bonuses and other benefits, ensuring security and maintaining navigability on waterways.

Currently, the minimum wage of a worker is Tk 3,900, they said

PLYING OF SMALL BOATS

According to Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority, plying of boats under 65-feet is prohibited at 23 different routes including Bhola, Tajumuddin, Elisha, Daulatkhan and Mehendiganj.

But, our Barisal correspondent reports, over two hundred trawlers are being operated at different points and ghats including Mirganj, Laharhut, Elisha, Majuchowdhury Ghat, Charmonai Ghat, Sreepur, Mehendiganj and Muladi of Barisal and Bhola District.

“I have no other alternative to go to Mehendiganj,” said Masuma Begum who boarded on a small trawler at Laharhut.

Mostafizur Rahman, Barisal river port officer, said they have informed the upazila nirbahi officer and local police regarding the matter.