State Minister for Shipping Khalid Mahmud Chowdhury has said they are trying to solve the countrywide cargo vessel workers’ strike crisis within Thursday.
The state minister said this while speaking with journalists at his secretariat office on Thursday.
“Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA) and the Department of Shipping, under the Ministry of Shipping, are working to solve the ongoing strike of the shipping workers.”
“Talks were with the ship owners and workers, discussions are ongoing, it will be resolved by today (Thursday),” Khalid said.
The state minister said: “The main demand of the workers is food allowance; of course the demand is fair. There is no doubt about it.”
“Previously, the workers also went on strike and the matter was solved through discussion. The workers are helpless. They earn their livelihood through hard labour. The employer-worker relationship will be friendly and cordial. We will solve this by coordinating with the owners and workers,” he also said.
The water transport workers have been continuing their indefinite countrywide strike for the third consecutive day to press home their 11-point demand.
The demands include payment of salaries of the water transport workers as per the gazette announced in 2016, food allowance, health care equipment, provision of appointment letters, issuing identity cards and service books to workers, ensuring their social security, compensation of Tk10 lakh for those killed in workplace accidents and effective measures to stop extortion on the waterways.
Before the briefing, Khalid discussed about bilateral issues of Bangladesh and India with the new Indian envoy to Dhaka Vikram Kumar Doraiswami
In their discussion, issues related to Payra Port, Mongla Port and Ashuganj Port were discussed.
The state minister said he wants to continue the relationship that was established between Bangladesh and India through the great Liberation War of Bangladesh.
“We want a closer and stronger relation between us,” he commented.
