Water transport workers call off strike

Water transport workers this evening withdrew their indefinite work abstention which was due to start tomorrow to press home their 15-point demand including pay hike.

"We have withdrawn our work abstention as authorities concerned have assured us of revising the wage structure within the next 30 working days," said Shah Alam, president of Bangladesh Noujan Sramik Federation.

The assurance came at a meeting of the shipping minister, government officials concerned, representatives of the water transport owners and workers’ associations at the shipping ministry's conference room.

"We have faith in our minister, vessel owners and other officials concerned. We hope the assurance will be met implemented on time," Shah Alam told The Daily Star around 7:15pm after the over four hour meeting.

Earlier on Sunday, workers at a press conference threatened to enforce an indefinite countrywide work abstention from the early hours of tomorrow if the authorities concerned would not take any initiative to fulfill their demand by the timeframe.

On that day, the workers claimed that vessel owners and government authorities did not pay heed to their demands despite repeated requests. So, they had no alternative to enforcing work abstention.