Bangladesh News

Activities at Mongla port came to a halt as water transport workers began an indefinite strike yesterday demanding increase in their wages.

This is for the third time that the workers of Inland Water transports stopped work at the port on the same demand in the wake of abnormal price hike of essentials.

Loading and unloading of goods from cargo ships remained stopped due to the strike. A foreign cargo ship, carrying 15,000 tonnes of urea fertiliser, arrived at the port on Monday. But the port authorities could not start unloading of the fertiliser due work stoppage

Water transport workers at Mongla port first went on strike on July 11 this year demanding pay rise and other financial benefits. The crisis was resolved with intervention of the shipping ministry and Mongla Port Authority.

In a tripartite meeting held on July 12, It was resolved that water transport workers would be brought under new scale of wages with effect from January next year and also be given ad-interim financial benefit from July 1 this year.

Workers again went on work stoppage on August 18 as decision taken in the July 12 meeting for giving ad-interim financial benefit was not implemented by the owners of inland water transports.

Workers resumed their activities on August 19 as the owners of inland water transports again asked for 15 days time to implement the decision for payment of ad-interim allowance, but they (owners) did not meet the demand of the workers within the extended time.

Kashem Master, joint secretary of Water Transport Workers’ Federation said stheir strike will continue until the demands are met.

Meanwhile, Port users have expressed their grave concern at work stoppage by the water transport workers.