Water transport workers’ strike paralyses Bangladesh ports

All major river ports and at least one seaport in Bangladesh have been paralysed with the waterways workers going on a nationwide strike once again within months of a similar demonstration earlier this year.

The workers have come up with a four-point charter of demands that includes a call for fixing minimum wages for boatmen at Tk 10,000.

Bangladesh Water Transport Workers’ Federation (BWTWF) President Md Shah Alam Bhuiyan on Tuesday told bdnews24.com the indefinite strike called by the Water Transport Workers’ Sangram Parishad began at midnight on Monday across the country.

“We demand a fixing of the minimum wage at Tk 10,000, refixing of the rate of compensation for workers killed in accidents, steps to prevent theft, terrorism and extortion and preservation of the rivers' navigability."

As many as 17 waterways workers’ organisations have lent their support to the strike, Alam said.

He said that when the workers went on strike in January, the government had declared making their minimum wages at par with the national pay scale within 30 working days.

“When workers went on a countrywide strike on April 20, six days into the strike, Shipping Minister Shajahan Khan had assured minimum wages of Tk 10,000. Both promises are yet to be kept," he added.

Since the demands of oil ferrying waterways workers has been met, they have kept away from Tuesday’s strike, he further informed, and added that all other workers numbering about 200,000 are participating in the strike. 

It may be mentioned here that instead of going for a hike in wages as promised after the strike in April, the vessel owners’ body had moved court against the decision.

Bangladesh Cargo Vessel Owners’ Association Vice-President Khorshed Alom said that fixing the wages is under the jurisdiction of the labour ministry. 

“We cannot pay what the shipping minister promised and so we have moved court. There is no legal basis for the workers going on strike," he said.

Chittagong

Meanwhile, all waterways traffic on the Chittagong port will remain closed as the workers of all kind of lighter ships and passenger launches have decided to extend support to the Water Transport Workers’ Oikya Parishad strike.

The workers here have lent support since the start of the strike Monday midnight.

Food and other cargo that had been unloaded from mother vassals to lighter smaller ships lie stranded at the port.

Water Transport Workers Sangram Parishad Convenor Wajul Islam told bdnews24.com that they have joined the strike to push for the four-point charter of demands.

He said that the oil ferrying workers have decided to stay away from the strike because their salaries were hiked by the owners.

Islam said that all lighter and passenger ferries from the port are suspended due to the strike.

“No proposal for negotiations has reached us yet so the strike will continue," he added.

Chandpur

The district's Water Transport Workers Sangram Parishad Convenor Md Biplob Sarkar said that the four-point charter has been a demand they had been making for a long time.

“The strike will continue until the demands are met," he said.

Munshiganj

Although all long distance launches from the district are not operating due to the strike, launch services on Munshiganj-Narayanganj and Shimulia-Kewrakandi routes are functional.

Many long distance travellers, who had no prior idea of the strike, have had to face inconvenience due to that.

Munshiganj terminal lessee and launch owner Dil Mohammad said that short distance workers do not have such demands and so their launches are operating.

Shimulia-Kewrakandi route launch owner Iqbal Hossain also said that workers on this route do not have pay issues.

Launch ML Mukul's pilot Md Jamal Hossain said he had nothing to comment on about the strikers’ demands. He said he received his daily wages of Tk 400 regularly and had no complaints.

[Reporting by Staff Correspondent, Chittagong Bureau and Chandpur, Munshiganj and Dohar-Nawabganj correspondents]