Water transport strike withdrawn
Sunday, 16 May 2010
FE Report
Bangladesh Noujan Sramik Federation withdrew nationwide indefinite water transport strike Saturday afternoon after the government assured them of fulfilling their demands.
The withdrawal came on the eighth consecutive day of the waterways strike after Nur-e-Alam Chowdhury, chairman of the parliamentary standing committee on shipping ministry, inked an agreement with the strikers at the parliament building, thus ending the weeklong travel chaos.
The agreement was signed following Chowdhury's meeting with the disgruntled river transport workers.
Under the deal, all the cases filed against the strikers will be withdrawn and all their detained leaders will be released, said Chowdhury.
Besides, the existing wages of the launch workers will also be revised, Shipping Minister Shahjahan Khan said at a press conference following the meeting.
Meanwhile, movement of vessels on all routes across the country became almost normal soon after the Federation announced their strike withdrawal.
Federation secretary general Ashikul Islam told the FE that they have decided to suspend the strike, which would be effective immediately, following the assurance from the authorities.
"The workers have joined their work stations soon after the strike withdrawal, and the launch services have resumed in full swing," he said.
He, however, could not say immediately when the arrested leaders and workers would be released. Police had arrested 12 Federation workers including its senior vice-president Shah Alam on charges of vandalism and violence at Sadarghat Launch Terminal.
The federation members had been observing the strike since midnight of May 7 after the government raised their wages by 50 to cent per cent, neglecting the federation's demand of 300 per cent increase.
Each water transport worker now gets Tk 1,350 per month, which was fixed in 2004. According to the new government-announced pay-scale, each worker will get Tk 2,850 instead of Tk 4,100 as demanded.
Bangladesh Noujan Sramik Federation withdrew nationwide indefinite water transport strike Saturday afternoon after the government assured them of fulfilling their demands.
The withdrawal came on the eighth consecutive day of the waterways strike after Nur-e-Alam Chowdhury, chairman of the parliamentary standing committee on shipping ministry, inked an agreement with the strikers at the parliament building, thus ending the weeklong travel chaos.
The agreement was signed following Chowdhury's meeting with the disgruntled river transport workers.
Under the deal, all the cases filed against the strikers will be withdrawn and all their detained leaders will be released, said Chowdhury.
Besides, the existing wages of the launch workers will also be revised, Shipping Minister Shahjahan Khan said at a press conference following the meeting.
Meanwhile, movement of vessels on all routes across the country became almost normal soon after the Federation announced their strike withdrawal.
Federation secretary general Ashikul Islam told the FE that they have decided to suspend the strike, which would be effective immediately, following the assurance from the authorities.
"The workers have joined their work stations soon after the strike withdrawal, and the launch services have resumed in full swing," he said.
He, however, could not say immediately when the arrested leaders and workers would be released. Police had arrested 12 Federation workers including its senior vice-president Shah Alam on charges of vandalism and violence at Sadarghat Launch Terminal.
The federation members had been observing the strike since midnight of May 7 after the government raised their wages by 50 to cent per cent, neglecting the federation's demand of 300 per cent increase.
Each water transport worker now gets Tk 1,350 per month, which was fixed in 2004. According to the new government-announced pay-scale, each worker will get Tk 2,850 instead of Tk 4,100 as demanded.