Biman workers siege Balaka

Workers at Biman Bangladesh have cordoned off the airlines headquarters to press for their 14-point charter of demands that include a ‘modern’ and ‘realistic’ organogram.

The siege prevented Biman officials from entering Balaka Bhaban between 9am and 12pm Wednesday.

The agitators are demanding the hiring of skilled workers for ground handling, a pay scale besides salary, and free medical treatment instead of a 25 percent salary deduction for a fund to cover medical expenses.

They want Dearness Allowance from Jul 1 and permanent status for those serving as temporary workers for over five years.

The protesters had earlier confined Biman’s managing director to his office on Jun 30 and the chairman on Jul 3.

“We believe an emergency board meeting will be called today to implement all our demands,” said CBA President Moshikur Islam after the three-hour siege. “If not, we’ll resume the siege at 9am tomorrow.”

The Biman staff would not let any board meetings to be held if their demands were not met, he said.

“If the board has to meet, it should do so to implement our demands. They can leave Balaka only after that’s done.”

In January last year, workers had confined Mosaddek Ahmed, then acting managing director of Biman, to his office to press for their six-point charter of demands.

An eight-hour strike by ground handlers had crippled Shahjalal International Airport, as their demands had not been met.

The staff returned to work only after then LGRD Minister Jahangir Kabir Nanak and then Civil Aviation Minister Faruk Khan had mediated a settlement.