The New Nation - Internet Edition

Staff Reporter

Talks between river transport workers under the banner of the Bangladesh River Transport Workers Federation and the officials of the Ministry of Shipping ended without any result yesterday.

Md Abdul Mannan Hawlader, acting secretary of the ministry held talks with the delegation of the federation led by Shah Alam, vice president of the organisation at the Secretariat yesterday.

However, a meeting between the rivers transport owners and the high officials of the Ministry of Shipping is likely to be held today to resolve the crisis, sources of the concerned ministry told the New Nation. The workers of the Bangladesh River Transport Workers Federation, a coalition of river transport unions, enforced the strike to realise their 22-point demand that include proper pay scale, effective application of riverine laws and stop harassment and robbery on river routes.

As the workers are on strike, passenger, goods and fishing vessels remained inoperative virtually paralysing river communication system through the country.

Hundreds of passengers were stranded at Sadarghat and other river terminals in the country. Fining no other alternative passengers were seen leaving the terminals. Goods piled up at the capital's main river port too.

No launch left the main Sadarghat terminal yesterday through passengers turned up in the morning.

Shah Alam, senior vice president of the workers federation said they would continue their movement until their demands are met.

Meanwhile, Bangladesh Launch Owners Association, Khulna Division River Transport Owners Association, Bangladesh Cargo Vessels Owners Association, Coastal Ship Owners Association of Bangladesh and Bangladesh Oil Tankers Owners Association in a joint statement denounced the strike.

Terming the strike as illegal they demanded of the government to take stern action against those enforced it.