Waterway workers withdraw strike

Water transport workers last evening withdrew their pre-announced countrywide indefinite work stoppage that was supposed to be enforced from early today demanding wage hike.

"We have withdrawn our strike as the authorities concerned have assured us of revising the wage structure within 30 working days," said Shah Alam, president of Bangladesh Noujan Sramik Federation.

The assurance came at a meeting among the shipping minister, government officials concerned, representatives of water transport owners and the workers' associations at the shipping ministry's conference room.

"…We hope that the assurance will be implemented on time," Shah Alam told The Daily Star following

the four-hour meeting.

Earlier on Sunday, the workers threatened to enforce the strike, demanding that their minimum wage be increased to Tk 10,000 from Tk 4,150. Their other demands include their formal appointment, ensuring workplace security and other benefits, prevention of extortion and robbery on waterways, and maintaining navigability of waterways.