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Download PDF The inland water transport sector of the country virtually came to a grinding halt yesterday leaving thousands of passengers and goods stranded, as water transport workers went on a countrywide strike demanding a salary hike.
No launch, steamer or cargo vessel has been operating since Thursday midnight, with the exceptions of a few trawlers and small boats.
Since the strike went into effect on Thursday midnight, movement of water transports has remained suspended on all major river routes including in the coastal districts of Chandpur, Barisal, Bhola and Patuakhali.
Thousands of passengers have been stranded at lunch terminals, including at the country’s biggest at Sadarghat in the capital, while hundreds returned home failing to board any launch.
Traders also have been facing a severe crisis with their goods being stranded at the terminals.
Sources said there are over 1.25 lakh workers engaged in the water transport sector.
Badiuzzaman Badal, acting chairman of Bangladesh Inland Water Transport (Passenger Carriers) Agency told The Daily Star, “More than 22,500 lunches, over 5,000 registered water vessels and more than one lakh unregistered vessels operate on river routes.”
He said, “Over 10 lakh people travel everyday by launches and other water transports while more than 60 percent of goods are carried by water transports.”
According to Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA), the workers went on the strike as Bangladesh Water Transport Workers Federation (BWTWF) had called upon them on Thursday to go on one from midnight, demanding an increase in their salaries and other facilities.
BWTWF leaders said the recent hike in prices of essential commodities has forced them to go on to the strike. The workers have been surviving on a meagre monthly salary of Tk 1,900.
Abdur Razzaq, Dhaka Nodi Bandar Committee president of Bangladesh Launch Labourers Association (BLLA) told The Daily Star, “We have been on a movement with the demands for a year now. But the owners did not pay any attention.”
“Our demands are to increase our salary to 3,000 taka from the 1,900 taka we get now, and the owners must meet our demand,” he said adding, “If they don’t meet our demand, all of 1.25 lakh workers will continue to abstain from work.”
Sources in BIWTA and police said since the strike had been called no launch arrived at or departed from Sadarghat launch terminal in the capital, till filing of this report last night.
Meanwhile, a meeting between the leaders of water transport owners and leaders of the striking workers in the Purana Paltan office of Bangladesh Inland Water Transport (Passenger Carriers) Agency, in the capital, concluded for the night at 9:45pm without any settlement.
Meeting sources said the owners wanted to increase the pay by 20 percent of the basic salary of Tk 1,300, which is an increase by Tk 260.
Talking to The Daily Star, BLLA leader Abdur Razzaq said, “We reduced our demand for salary hike to 2,700 taka from the earlier demand for 3,000 taka, so the problem might be solved, but the owners are not cooperating.”
But, Bangladesh Inland Water Transport (Passenger Carriers) Agency Acting Chairman Badiuzzaman said, “It’s impossible to increase the salary by more than 20 percent, which has been fixed by the government.”
After the failed meeting last night Abdur Razzaq said, “Our strike will continue since the owners did not meet our demands.”
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