The water transport workers have called off an indefinite strike they had enforced demanding justice for seven murders on a vessel in the River Meghna and enhanced security after 45 hours following the government鈥檚 assurance to meet their demands and requests from the shipping department.聽
The strike that began at midnight past Thursday ended Saturday night after discussions between labour leaders and government representatives, officials and workers who attended the meeting said.
Commodore Mohammad Maksud Alam, director general of the Department of Shipping, said that the workers鈥� demands, including compensation for the families of the murdered workers, were addressed.
By Sunday morning, loading and unloading operations from mother vessels to lighters at the Chattogram Port鈥檚 outer anchorage resumed, Maksud Alam said.聽
Shah Alam, president of the Bangladesh Water Transport Workers Federation, said, 鈥榃e enforced the strike demanding a proper investigation and trial for the murders in the ship, compensation for the families of the deceased sailors, and enhanced security measures.鈥�
鈥榃e received assurances of a fair investigation into the murders, the arrest of those responsible, and compensation.鈥櫬�
Following the announcement, lighter workers promptly resumed operations at 16 private ghats along Karnaphuli River. At these ghats, including Majhir Ghat, Banglabazar, and Sadarghat, loading and unloading of goods are done.聽
On December 23, five bodies were recovered from MV Al Bakhera in the Meghna River in Chandpur. Two of the three injured sailors who were recovered died later.聽