River vessel workers go on indefinite strike in Barishal

River vessel workers are also observing an indefinite strike in Barishal like the entire country demanding 11-point including giving appointment letter, food allowance, stopping extortions in the river way.

As a result, all types of vessels, including passengers and cargo, remained suspended from the Barishal river port.

The strike, called by Bangladesh River Vessel Workers Federation, came into effect from 12:01am on Tuesday, said Shah Alam Bhuiyan, president of the federation.

River vessel workers and owners sat for a meeting on Monday afternoon at the intervention of Chairman of Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA) Commodore Golam Sadeq but both the sides did not reach a consensus.

Ekin Ali Master, joint secretary of Barishal branch of Bangladesh River Vessel Workers Federation, said they enforced the indefinite strike from 12:01am on Tuesday, suspending plying of all types of vessels.

Earlier, the vessel workers also went on strike over the same demands. Following assurance from the government and vessel owners to meet their demands, they postponed their strike, said Shah Alam.

As their demands were not fulfilled, the workers have decided to go on a strike again, added the federation president.
 
The 11-point demand includes stopping extortions in the river way, wages of labour according to 2016 gazette, approval of landing pass for India goers' workers, food allowance approved by owners, Tk10 lakhs for worker’s compensation.