CHATTOGRAM, Nov 27: Trades, including international and domestic through Chattogram Port are seriously hampered due to an indefinite strike called and enforced by the workers of lighterage ships today.
Port sources said unloading of cargoes from large freight ships by lighterage (smaller) vessels in the port area has remained halted since early Wednesday because of the strike by the workers who called the work stoppage for realising their multiple demands, including pay hike.
The workers totally stopped work at outer anchorage and 16 ghats (jetty) of Karnaphuli River from this morning, a port official and trade body leaders said.
"So, no containers and cargoes were loaded into the big merchant ships (mother vessels) at the outer anchorage of the sea port and jetties or unloaded from them today," they said.
"The whole maritime trades have been facing a deep crisis due to the indefinite strike enforced by the workers since this morning," said an official.
Traders, including importers and exporters, have expressed deep concern over the wildcat strike by the lighterage (small vessel) workers.
A total of 51 mother vessels have remained floating at the outer anchorage of the country's prime sea port with more than 2.0 million (20 lakh) metric tonnes of cargoes since this morning, port officials said.
Member of Chittagong Port Authority (CPA) Mohammed Jafar Alam said, "CPA is not responsible for the unusual situation created by the strike. The owners and workers of (smaller) cargo vessels and coastal ships should be blamed for the situation," he mentioned.
All the stakeholders should start trying immediately to end the crisis for the sake of smooth maritime trade in the country, he added.
However, Secretary of CPA Omar Faruk claimed that the activities at the jetties of the port were normal till Wednesday morning.
Contacted, President of Chattogram Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCCI) Mahbubul Alam expressed concern over the situation at the port.
He said, "If all activities, including operation at the Chattogram Port are hampered for any cause, the country's business, including export and import will suffer the most."
He urged all to sit across the table immediately and solve the problem through discussion.
Mohammed Abdul Aziz, a leader of Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA), said the maritime trade is being disrupted for the strike.
However, he said the readymade garment (RMG) sector has not yet been hit by the ongoing indefinite strike of lighterage ships and coastal vessel workers.
But other leaders of the organisation said if the strike continues for a longer period, all the trades will be hit hard.
When contacted, leaders of the organisation that represents the striking workers, said they won't call off the strike unless their demands are met.
The Bangladesh Maritime Workers Sangram Porishad (BMWSP) leaders the government declared the wages for the workers. But the owners of the ships are not paying wages of the workers as per the government-declared rates. "They have not implemented the wages fixed by the government till today violating the rules," said the BMWSP workers.
Contacted, Vice President of Bangladesh Noujan Sramik Federation (BNSF) Nobi Alam said: "More than 1,500 lighterage ships and oil tankers have remained idled (anchored) in river Karnaphuli today."
"Loading and unloading of cargoes at Outer Anchorage of Chittagong Port and 16 ghats on the bank of the river have been suspended today due to the strike," he added.
BNSF Joint Secretary Khorshed Alam said, the workers are observing the strike to press for their 15-point-demand, including an increase in their pay.
Their other demands include increasing compensation for death and injuries caused by any accident while working, steps to stop piracy in sea and rivers and extortion on maritime routes, ensuring smooth navigations on all inland maritime routes.
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