No benefit for over 1000 unregistered dockers

Government has allocated Tk 14,36,67,000 conditional loan to Mongla Port Authority (MPA) to clear the dues of 1,758 registered sacked dockers.
Mongla Port Authority received a letter in this regard on Wednesday and the payment is expected to begin next month.
Meanwhile, over a thousand unregistered sacked dockers are preparing to start fresh agitation demanding financial benefits from the port authority.
They have vowed to go to the court, if necessary, said general secretary of Mongla Port Sramik Sangha Shahabuddin Ahmed.
About 4,000 dockers were sacked by the port authority following abolition of Dock Workers' Management Board (DWMB) on May 4 last year by the caretaker government.
The authority introduced Berth Operating System (BOS) from August. Under the system, the stevedores are solely authorised to appoint dock workers for cargo handling operations which was previously controlled by the DWMB. The board allegedly used to take frequent decisions under political influence.
After abolition of DWMB, the sacked dockers along with members of their families started agitation demanding payment of their dues and other financial benefits.
They formed human chains several times and staged demonstrations wearing shrouds and went on fast-unto-death to press home their demands.
The port authority, in the face of series of agitations, finally asked for allocation of Tk 19,15,67,000 from the government fund for payment of dues and other financial benefits only to 1,758 registered dockers.
The ministry of finance allocated the aforesaid amount on condition that the entire money must be paid back within 20 years with five percent interest. The remaining Tk 4 crore 79 lakh would also be given shortly, it said.
But the Mongla Port Authority is yet to take any decision as to how the money will be paid to the registered sacked dockers. Port officials are now waiting for a guideline in this regard from their chairman.
The ministry of finance has asked the port authority to distribute it within next month which is one of the conditions for getting the allocation, said Member (Operation) Lutfor Rahman of MPA.
Director (Traffic) Mahbubullah said the fund was allocated on condition that only registered sacked dockers are entitled to get the payment.
"We can only express our sympathy for the non-registered dockers as we are helpless", he said.