BNSF threatens strike from Apr 16

FE Report | Published: April 13, 2019 23:08:30

Bangladesh Noujan Sramik Federation (BNSF) threatened on Saturday to go on strike from April 16 if their demands are not met by tomorrow (Monday).
The announcement about the planned work abstention programme came at a rally held in front of the National Press Club in the city.
BNSF leaders at the rally said they will go on strike from April 16 if the government does not fulfil their 11-point demand by tomorrow (Monday).
They also called upon all labour organisations (trade bodies of river routes) to get united for realising their demands.
General Secretary of BNSF Chowdhury Ashiqul Alam said they are set to observe the work abstention programme as their demands have not yet been met.
The government, river vessel owners and BNSF leaders reached a consensus on implementation of 11-point demand at a meeting in September last year, he added.
The demands of BNSF (Bangladesh River Vessels Workers Federation) include checking illegal toll collection and stopping violence on all river vessels, full implementation of new pay scale (2016), issuing landing pass and stopping harassment of India-bound local river vessel/ship labourers, providing food allowance to them by river vessel/ship owners, re-fixation of technical allowances, paying compensation of Tk 1 million to workers for death on duty, providing appointment letters, identity cards and service books to them by owners.
Besides, the federation demanded measures for ensuring their social security and smooth navigability of rivers, stopping harassment by department of shipping and providing sea allowance for the labourers working at Chattogram, Mongla and Payra ports.
BNSF President Md Shah Alam Bhuiyan, its organising secretary Chowdhury Afsar Hossain and publicity secretary Sheikh Abul Kasem, among others, were present at the rally.
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