Works at Chittagong and Mongla ports have come to a standstill for the past three days due to a strike by lighter vessel workers.
Published : 10 Nov 2014, 03:51 PM
The cease-work continued on Monday despite a faction of lighter vessel workers agreeing to lift their countrywide strike on Sunday evening.
Lighter vessel workers enraged by an alleged robbery on Baghabari-bound lighter vessel Karnaphuli-5 in Meghna river, have been enforcing the strike since Saturday to press for safer waterways.
Police found three labourers locked up in a cabin while the vessel was found near Batirkhal of Ramgati Upazila on the early hours of Saturday, while seven of the 10 workers were missing.
Meanwhile, operator of Karnaphuli-5 Noor Newaz’s dead body was spotted in Meghna river at Lakshmipur at the early hours of Monday.
A faction of striking workers said they would return to work after they meet Deputy Inspector General Shafikul Islam on Sunday evening while others decided to continue the strike until the missing workers are found.
Joint secretary of a faction of the Lighter Vessel workers Union, Khurshed Alam told bdnews24.com: “We were not called to the meeting on Sunday. I don’t know about any plans to lift the strike.”