BIWTA chairman's removal demanded
Jatiya Ghat Sramik League (JGSL), a workers' organisation, yesterday demanded removal of Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority chairman, accusing that he leased out three points of Sadarghat launch terminal in exchange of bribe.
The JGSL also demanded to try BIWTA Chairman Abdul Malek Miah at a press conference at Dhaka Reporters Unity in the city.
JGSL President Abdul Jalil Hawlader in a written statement alleged that Malek Miah took Tk 25 lakhs as bribe from the current leaseholder Alamgir Hossain, president of Dhaka Nou-Bandar Ghat Sramik Bahumukhi Somobai Samity.
He said BIWTA Chairman Malek, in collaboration with BIWTA Deputy Director Sharif Afzal, also his niece's husband, grabbed several lakh Taka from different river ports across the country.
In a reply, he said, ''We met with the shipping minister several times. He (minister) assured us to resolve the problem, but took no effective measure to investigate the corruption.''
The JGSL leaders also sought cancellation of the lease, trial of corrupted BIWTA officials, and appointment of at least 100 workers of the Ghat Sramik League in Sadarghat terminal.
Their demand further include making mandatory for the workers to wear red coloured uniforms instead of sky-coloured ones, and introducing identification number of all the workers of the terminal.
To press home their demands, the JGSL announced a number of programmes including submission of memorandum to the shipping minister on September 22, formation of human chain in front of National Press Club on September 29, rallying on October 6, and mass hunger strike at Muktangon on October 13.
BIWTA Chairman Abdul Malek Miah said JGSL leaders failed to take out a lease of the terminal this year despite numerous efforts, because BIWTA owes them a huge amount of money. ''That is why they are spreading such rumour.''
JGSL General Secretary Delwar Hossain, Organising Secretary Ramjan Sheikh, and Member Secretary Kanchan Miah were present at the press conference among others.
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