River transport strike continues for 3rd day

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FE Report
The police arrested the chief of the striking water vessel crews and masters in an apparent move to stem disruption of waterway communications, as the countrywide strike enforced since Friday midnight demanding more than 300 per cent wage hike continued for the third straight day Monday.
The police arrested president of Bangladesh Noujan Sramik Federation Shah Alam from Fakirerpool in the capital Monday, a day after the shipping minister warned of stern action against the 'so-called' strikers.
The Kotwali police chief Salauddin Ahmed told the FE that they arrested Shah Alam at about 13:30pm under the Speedy Tribunal Act, as the union leader was the first among the 125 accused of vandalising an office of the pro-government water transport workers.
The pro-AL Noujan Sramik League filed a case against 125 members of the Noujan Sramik Federation including its president and general secretary Thursday night.
As the news of the arrest spread, the strikers were seen leaving the terminal to avert being captured by the police.
The union leaders condemned the police arrest and feared that it would hurt the chance of negotiation that could lead to withdrawal of the strike. They also urged the government to free the detained workers immediately for the sake of creating a congenial atmosphere for talks.
Secretary General of the union Chowdhury Ashiqur Rahman said the strike would be continued, unless the case against the striking workers was not withdrawn.
"The government foiled the environment of dialogue. It can be restored only by releasing the detained workers unconditionally," he said, adding that some people forcibly wanted to lift the strike.
Waterway passengers continued to suffer for third straight day Monday due to the countrywide enforced by the largest union of water vessel crews and masters partially disrupting waterway communications.