Second day of countrywide water transport strike passes off

The indefinite strike enforced by the Water Transport Workers Federation on the second day Wednesday paralysed inland waterway services across the country and halted export-import to and from India through waterways, reports UNB.

The federation called the strike from Monday midnight to press for the 22-point demand, including a new pay scale, implementation of marine laws and cancellation of the renewal system of the certificates of masters and drivers of water vessels.

Thousands of passengers travelling from Dhaka to country's southern districts by launches are facing difficulties following the strike. It has also created problem for transportation of goods and essential commodities showing upward trend of prices in the markets.

At least 15,000 types of water vessels, including coasters, cargos, oil-tankers and barges ply different river routes and 1.5 lakh workers are engaged in this sector.

Bangladesh Ship Owners Association and Bangladesh Cargo Vessels Owners Association have jointly urged the federation to call off the strike.

Leaders of the two associations at a hurriedly called news conference at the national press club in the evening termed the strike illegal and unlawful.

Gazi Delwar Hossain Mithu, leader of Bangladesh Ship Owners Association, said the inland water transport workers are given wages on the basis of 2004 gazette plus 69 per cent interim allowance.

"Therefore, enforcement of the strike to press for re-fixation of the wage structure is under no circumstance logical and legal," he said.