Launch workers bring transport to coastal districts to total halt

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The city's Sadarghat terminal gives a desolate look as launches are anchored on the other bank Sunday, the first day of the indefinite countrywide launch strike. — FE photos by Ataur Rahman Babu

FE Report
Hundreds of thousands of passengers were stranded at the country's river ports Sunday as an indefinite strike enforced by launch and ferry crew brought inland water transport to a total halt.
The shipping ministry held an emergency meeting with the strikers to resolve the crisis, but a coalition of unions representing some 150,000 crew vowed to stay off water, as they found little assurance from the government and the boat owners.
The unions who imposed the strike since Saturday midnight, were demanding a three-fold increase of their
wages, better conditions, safety and security during journeys and an end to what they say police harassment of workers.
"We won't suspend our strike unless we get concrete assurances from the government and the launch owners that they will meet our 22-point demand," said Shah Alam, a senior vice-president of one of the unions.
The city's main river port at Sadarghat was largely deserted as scores of launches that ply between the capital and 20 southern districts were anchored in mid-river, with hundreds of crew agitating for their demand.
Earlier in the day thousands of passengers came to the Sadarghat only to be told by the port officials that no launch would set off for the southern districts --- accessible only by water transports.
Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA) said thousands of people and cargoes were also trapped at the river ports at Barisal, Barguna, Patuakhali, Bhola, Pirojpur, Bagerhat, Laksmipur, Chittagong and Khulna.
"Communications between the southern districts and remote islands were completely cut off," a BIWTA official said.
"I am afraid if the strike prolongs, the coastal islands and villages will face acute shortage of essential foods and goods. Some 20 million people living in the coastal districts has been affected by this strike," he said.
Shirin Akhter, a government official who was scheduled to travel to remote Patharghata island in Barguna, said she came to the Sadarghat hoping that the strikers would suspend their action later in the day.
"I need to travel as fast as possible. My mother is seriously ill. But the crew told me to go home," she said, visibly on tears.
Hundreds of tonnnes of cargoes were also piled up at the Sadarghat, forcing the traders to look for alternatives. "Transportation cost in launches is cheaper and easier than trucks," said Saiful Islam, a potato trader.
"My potato will rot if the strike does not end by Monday," he added.
Shipping minister Shahjahan Khan termed the strike unfortunate, saying the authorities were sincerely trying to meet the workers demand through intensive talks with vessel owners.
The minister was visiting his hometown Madaripur as the strike was enforced. In his absence, shipping secretary Abdul Mannan Hawlader led the meeting with the unions but could not persuade them to call off the strike.
The Bangladesh Inland Waterways Passenger Carriers Association (BIWPCA), a grouping of the country's large launch owners, branded the unions' action illegal.
"Wages of inland waterways workers were raised by 35 per cent to 70 per cent in July 2008. It's completely irrational, unlawful and against the country's labour laws to enforce such a crippling strike," BIWPCA's senior vice chairman Badiuzzaman Badal told the FE.
He said the vessel owners would file a lawsuit if the workers do not withdraw the strike immediately.
Additional security has been deployed at the country's main river ports and terminals to prevent any violence.
Bangladesh has more than 1000 big passenger vessels and some 100,000 small and medium-sized mechanized cargo and passenger boats regularly plying in its 6000 kiliometre long river routes.
The unions said crew of all these boats and vessels have joined the strike to press home their demand.
The five labour unions that enforced the strike are: Bangladesh Launch Labour Association, Rangamati Parbatya Zila Noujan Sramik Union, Samudrik Matshya Shikari Jahaj Sramik Union, Bangladesh Jahaj Sramik Sangha and Cargo-Trawler Sramik Union.