¶¶Òõ¾«Æ·

An indefinite strike by water transport workers brought activities, including cargo unloading, at the Chattogram port, and at its outer anchorages to a grinding halt for the second consecutive day on Saturday. 

The Bangladesh Water Transport Workers Federation initiated the strike at midnight on Thursday, demanding justice for the brutal killing of seven workers aboard the MV Al Bakhera in Chandpur’s Meghna River.

The workers engaged in cargo operations, meanwhile, have vowed to continue their protest until those responsible for the murders are brought to justice. 

The strike has left hundreds of lighters idle at 16 terminals along the Karnaphuli River, paralysing cargo unloading at the Chattogram port and disrupting supply chains nationwide.

Ships have been unable to transport goods from the outer anchorage or proceed to their destinations with cargo for the past two days.

Port officials and industry sources said that about 1.5 million metric tonnes of goods remain stranded at sea and river ports.

The goods included essential commodities such as wheat, lentils, soybean seeds, fertilisers, and cement clinker. Around 20 mother vessels carrying 4,50,000 metric tonnes of imported goods are stuck at the outer anchorage of the Chattogram port. 

Md Omar Faruq, secretary to the Chittagong Port Authority, said, ‘No unloading activities are being carried out on mother vessels, leading to increased waiting times. Each vessel is incurring losses of $10,000 to $15,000 daily due to fixed operating costs.’ 

While operations at container jetties of the Chattogram port remain unaffected, the suspension of cargo unloading at the outer anchorage has escalated concerns among traders about potential shortages of consumer goods and industrial raw materials. 

The strike has also disrupted operations at over 50 inland river ports, leaving 773 lighter ships stranded across the country. These include Dhaka, Narayanganj, Barishal, Chandpur, Khulna, Baghabari, and Ashuganj, causing a nationwide suspension of cargo transport on inland waterways. 

In Barishal, all types of cargo ships ceased operations for the second day on Saturday in protest against the on-board killing of seven workers on a cargo ship in Chandpur, ¶¶Òõ¾«Æ· correspondent in the district reported.

Ships carrying oil and other goods are anchored on the other bank of the Kirtankhola River. No goods are being unloaded from the ships.

Abul Hashem Master, president of the Barishal Divisional Ship Workers Federation and Launch Labor Association, confirmed this information on Saturday, the second day of the strike.

He said that the Ship Workers Federation had been demanding 11 points, including the safety of the workers, for a long time.

Cargo workers are suffering as they have not been able to unload their goods due to the two-day strike, he added.

He also says that their employers are not paying them salaries in due time causing the fatal killing of workers by agitated deprived workers.

Bangladesh Water Transport Workers Federation’s President, Md Shah Alam said, ‘Our demands are clear. Until justice is served for the murdered workers and our demands are addressed, the strike will continue.’

Industry insiders, meanwhile, warned that the ongoing strike could lead to significant supply chain disruptions.