Water transport workers withdraw strike, resume work

Water transport workers, who have been observing work abstention -- suspending cargo handling at Chattogram and Mongla ports' outer anchorage -- have agreed to withdraw their strike and resumed work.

Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA) Chairman Commodore Golam Sadeq confirmed the development to The Daily Star this evening.

The workers agreed to withdraw work abstention as owners have assured to provide food allowance, the BIWTA chairman said.

The decision was taken at a meeting held at Labour Ministry with the presence of State Minister Begum Monnujan Sufian while Shipping Ministry Secretary Mohammed Mezbah Uddin Chowdhury, BIWTA Chairman, leaders of water transport workers and owners took part in the meeting.

Director General of Department of Shipping Commodore Abu Zafar Md Jalal Uddin, who was also present at the meeting, said as per the decision, the food allowance will be given at three levels -- Tk 1,000, Tk 1,200 and Tk 1,500.

Bangladesh Noujan Sramik Federation and Bangladesh Lighterage Sramik Union jointly enforced the work abstention since October 20 midnight to press home their 11-point demands including food allowance.

Chowdhury Ashiqul Alam, general secretary of Bangladesh Water Transport Workers Federation (BWTWF) confirmed to The Daily Star that workers have resumed work across the country.

Bangladesh Noujan Sramik Federation President Shah Alam confirmed that they withdrew the strike after the owners agreed to pay food allowances.

He said they urged the workers to resume work across the country.

Nabi Alam, joint secretary of the federation, informed that the workers at 17 private docks at Majhirghat in Chattogram and at the outer anchorage of Chattogram port resumed work around 8:30pm after announcement from two top leaders of the federation.

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