Water vessel workers call off strike, getting back to work

Marine vessel workers have called off the strike they had started three days ago after the shipping minister promised to meet their demands.

Since Saturday, the workers went on an indefinite strike demanding safer waterways and that river routes be freed from extortions, intimidations and robberies.

After Minister Shajahan Khan assured them of accepting the demands at a meeting Monday evening, the decision to withdraw the cease-work was taken, said Bangladesh River Vessels Workers Federation General Secretary Chowdhury Ashiqul Alam.

He told bdnews24.com: "The labourers will resume work tonight (Monday)."

The federation's Joint Secretary Khorshed Alam also said work at the lighter vessels at Chittagong Port would resume too.

Enraged vessel workers had enforced the strike after a robbery on Baghabari-bound lighter vessel Karnaphuli-5 in the Meghna River.

However, a faction of agitating workers from Chittagong's Lighterage Workers Union resumed work on Sunday, but the other faction and the federation pressed on with the strike.

Consequently, loading and unloading of goods at Bangladesh's two major ports – Chittagong and Mongla – came to a standstill.

Transportation of goods via waterways was also disrupted.

Shipping Minister Khan met the labour leaders at the ministry in capital Dhaka Monday.

Ashiqul Alam said the minister assured them that missing workers would be rescued within seven days.

Khan further promised that the robbers and abductors would be nabbed and tried and the family of the dead worker would be given financial aid within the same timeframe.

He added that a high-level meeting would also take place after seven days to review progress on these issues.

Fertiliser-loaded vessel MV Karnaphuli-5 was headed towards Sirajganj's Baghabarhi from Chittagong on Friday evening when it was attacked and robbed on the Meghna River at Lakshmipur's Ramgati Upazila.

After looting the ship, the raiders confined three of the 10 workers to a cabin. Police rescued the trio from there later, but the other seven have gone missing since then.

Meanwhile, the body of one of them, operator of Karnaphuli-5 Noor Newaz, was recovered from Meghna River at Lakshmipur in the early hours of Monday.

Bangladesh River Vessels Workers Federation President Md Shah Alam on Monday said the shipping minister assured them that the rescue efforts for the six missing workers would be strengthened.

Shahdat Hossain, general secretary of the Lighterage Workers Union faction that withdrew strike Sunday, told bdnews24.com that they also met the minister and was assured of their demands being met.