Bangladesh Noujan Sramik Federation calls indefinite strike from November 30
Earlier on Thursday, Bangladesh Noujan Sramik Federation held a rally in front of the Jatiya Press Club demanding fulfilment of their demands
Bangladesh Noujan Sramik Federation will observe indefinite waterways strike from November 30 to press home their 11-point charter of demands.
The leaders of the federation vowed to continue their strike until their demands are met.
President of Bangladesh Noujan Sramik Federation Md Shah Alam Bhuiyan told The Business Standard that they gave huge time to the water transport owners and the government to meet their demands. But no side took any initiative in this regard.
"We will start our strike from 12:01am on November 30. The authorities concerned have to fulfil our demands. Otherwise we will not back from the strike," the president said.
The 11-point demands are initiatives to end intimidation, extortion and piracy on the waterways, full implementation of 2016 pay scale, adaptation of an appointment system, providing identity cards and service books, stopping corruption and harassment in enrolment examinations, distribution and renewal process of certificates of masters and other workers, Tk 10 lakh as compensation for the families of the workers in the incident of death at the workplace or in an accident, introduction of life insurance policy, provident fund under the government management, food and sea allowance for all waterways workers, providing landing passes and stopping harassment of India-bound workers.
Earlier on Thursday, Bangladesh Noujan Sramik Federation held a rally in front of the Jatiya Press Club demanding fulfilment of their demands.
General Secretary of the Bangladesh Noujan Sramik Federation Chowdhury Ashiqul Alam said, "We are struggling for our logical demands. But I don't know why the water transport owners and the government did not meet demands.
"A water transport worker has no identity card and even has no appointment letter. This is very much unfortunate for the workers as the owners sack them without any notice. It was impossible if the workers had adequate papers," he said.
About the Wednesday' meeting with the Labour and Employment Minister and its top officials he said, "The ministry requested us not to go for strike and sought time till March to meet the demands. But the representatives of the federation did not agree with the ministry's application.
Most of the owners did not respond the call of the ministry to attend the meeting on Wednesday. We did not get any assurance from the owners. That is why we have no other way but to go on strike," he said.