Bangladesh river transport workers strike over wages, benefits

The nationwide strike by water transport workers in Bangladesh continued into the second consecutive day on Friday, crippling river ports, causing troubles to the passengers reliant on waterways.

About 150,000 water transport workers working at nearly 20,000 inland water transports went on strike on Thursday morning to press home their 15-point demands including pay hike.

Demanding a minimum monthly wage of 10,000 taka for workers and increase in overtime pay, festival bonuses and other benefits, the Bangladesh Water Transport Workers Federation (BWTWF) called the strike.

Shah Alam Bhuiyan, president of the federation, told journalists that the last time the minimum wage got hiked was in 2013 from 3,000 to 4,100 taka.

"We've been compelled to enforce the strike as the government failed to convince owners for a pay hike," he added.

Due to the strike, passenger ships did not ply on internal routes, causing untold sufferings to thousands of passengers.

Bangladesh is criss-crossed by 250 rivers and creeks which are still very vital for its irrigation and transport purposes.

Apart from mounting plight to the passengers, sources said the nationwide strike by water transport workers is taking a heavy toll on the country's exporters and importers also.

Dozens of cargo and lighter vessels are stranded in Bangladesh' s two seaports -- southeastern Chittagong and southern Mongla -- as imported goods are not being unloaded

Sources said negotiations are underway among the government bodies, owners and workers to end the impasse.

A shipping ministry official who did not like to be named told Xinhua on Friday morning that they were talking to all relevant stakeholders.

He expressed the hope that soon they could reach consensus with owners and workers to end the strike. Endit