Water transport services on 18 routes from Barishal came to a standstill after the water transport workers went on strike from Sunday midnight, causing inconvenience to commuters.
The water transport workers declared a strike on Saturday night to press for their 10-point demands, including fixing their minimum wage at Tk 20,000.
According to Barishal Water Transport owners, the workers removed the launch from the Barishal terminal at 12 am on Sunday and movement of vessels, including long routes, remained suspended.
Meanwhile, movement of cargo ships from Barishal also remained suspended due to the strike.
Naujan Shramik Sangram Parishad President Master Ekin Ali said that they will continue the strike until their demands are met.
Other demands of the workers are- providing appointment letters, identity cards and service books to the workers, providing food and sea allowance by forming Contributory Provident Fund and Seamen’s Welfare Fund, providing compensation of Rs 10 lakh in case of accident and death at work.
In addition, easing restrictions on night-time movement of sand-carrying bulkheads and dredgers, preventing terrorism, extortion and piracy on waterways, stopping harassment at the Indian border in providing landing passes to workers traveling to India, Chattogram 100% enforcement of freight policy at the port, forcing all lightering vessels to maintain serial, cancellation of lease at Charpara jetty and stopping all kinds of irregularities and mismanagement by shipping department.