Lighterage strike brings Ctg port to a halt

CHATTOGRAM, July 24: Workers of lighterage vessels went on a strike for an indefinite period at the Chattogram port from Wednesday morning.
All striking workers stopped loading and unloading lighterage vessels with effect from Wednesday morning.
On the other hand, water transport workers called off their strike over different demands, including appointment letters, allowances, and an end to extortion.
Two groups of workers - Bangladesh Noujan Sramik Federation and Bangladesh Jahaji Sramik Federation - said they lifted the strike considering passengers' sufferings ahead of Eid after a meeting with the authorities in the capital on Wednesday afternoon.
"We are postponing our programmes for now considering the passengers' sufferings," Bangladesh Noujan Sramik Federation President Shah Alam told bdnews24.com earlier in the afternoon when the meeting was underway.
The strike for the freighter ships would continue, he said, but later after the meeting, Bangladesh Jahaji Shramik Federation President Shukkur Mahmud confirmed the withdrawal of the strike.
Sources said maritime trade, including international and inland, was being hampered due to the strike.
A total of 42 mother vessels were staying at the outer anchorage of the Chattogram port, the prime sea port of the country, loaded with more than 2.0 million (20 lakh) tonnes of cargoes on the day.
Member of Chittagong Port Authority (CPA) Mohammed Jafar Alam said, "CPA is not liable for the situation. The owners and workers of Cargo Vessels and Coastal ships are liable for the situation. So, all should solve the crisis for the sake of maritime trade in our country immediately."
President of Chittagong Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCCI) Mahabubul Alam urged all to solve the crisis immediately through discussion.
He said, "If the operational activities of the Chittagong seaport are hampered for any reason, the trade and export-import activities of the country will be hampered."
BGMEA official Mohammed Abdul Aziz said, "Despite the indefinite strike of the workers of Cargo-Vessels and Coastal ships, the Ready Made Garment (RMG) sector till now is not hampered, but the maritime trade is being hampered."
Sources said, following the indefinite strike of the workers of cargo vessels and coastal ships, maritime trade of the country was put in trouble. The indefinite strike of the workers of lighterage ships was called to realise the workers' 11-point demand, including raising the wages of workers.
The leaders of Bangladesh Maritime Workers Sangram Porishad said the government declared wages for the workers. But the owners of the ships were not paying them the government-declared wages violating the government rules until Wednesday.
Their demand also includes raising compensation in the event of any accident, stopping the piracy and extortion on maritime routes, navigation of all inland maritime routes.
Khorshed Alam, joint secretary of Bangladesh Noujan Sramik Federation, said, the workers were observing the strike to press home their 11-point demand, including wage hike.
Nobi Alam, vice president of the Bangladesh Noujan Sramik Federation said, "More than 1500 lighterage ships, oil tankers remained anchored in the Karnaphuli on the day."
Loading and unloading of cargoes at the outer anchorage of the port and 16 terminals on the bank of the river were suspended due to the strike.
The carrying of cargoes through the inland waterways remained suspended on the day due to the strike imposed by Bangladesh Noujan Sramik (Maritime Workers) Federation.
Sources said the Chittagong port, which deals with 80 per cent of export and import of Bangladesh came to a halt due to the strike.
The congestion of ships at the outer anchorage and the number of containers at the yards of the port will also increase due to the strike as importers cannot take delivery of their goods.

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