Countrywide indefinite launch strike from Monday

Staff Correspondent: Launch owners have announced to go for countrywide indefinite strike from Monday demanding the release of ML Pinak-6 owner Abu Bakar Siddique and his son Limon.

Bangladesh Inland Waterways Association announced the strike programme at an urgent meeting at its office in capital on Thursday.

However the owners will sit in a meeting with Shipping Minister Shahjahan Khan. If any reasonable solution is not emerged in the meeting, then almost 600 passenger launches will halt providing services.

Claiming Pinak-6 owner AB Siddique innocent in the launch capsize incident, Bangladesh Inland Waterways Association Chairman Mahbub Uddin Ahmed blamed BIWTA officials for the accident.

Passenger launch ‘ML Pinak-6’ on its way to Mawa from Kawrakandi sank in the Padma River with at least 250 people on board on August 4.

Bodies of 48 passengers were recovered while 62 passengers are still missing.

Later Rapid Action Battalion arrested Abu Bakar and his son Limon and the duo are now in a four-day police remand.

risingbd/DHAKA/Aug 21, 2014/Nag/Augustin Sujan