Meet 5-pt demand by tomorrow

Retrenched Mongla dockers' deadline

31 January 2009, 18:00 PM

Staff Correspondent, Khulna

Agitating retrenched dockworkers of Mongla port yesterday gave a two-day deadline to meet their five-point demand including payment of arrears, their reinstatement and revival of abolished dock workers' management board (DWMB). About 4,000 dock workers, who lost their jobs with abolition of DWMB in August last year, have also threatened to paralyse the port through vigorous movement if their demands are not met by tomorrow. To find a way out in the face of such difficult situation, Mongla Port Authority (MPA) has sought suggestions from the ministry concerned. The immediate past caretaker government in August last year introduced Berth Operating System (BOS), abolishing the DWMB. The new system, which threw about 4,000 dock workers out of jobs, authorised stevedores to carry out cargo handling operation and gang booking at the port. AKM Shahabuddin, general secretary of Mongla Port Workers' Union, alleged that a group of stevedores are abusing power in appointing dock workers for gang booking. He said a leader of Mongla Port Stevedores' Association has joined hands with a group of corrupt officials of MPA to monopolise gang booking and also to deprive retrenched workers of their legitimate right to get arrears. “MPA needs at least Tk 20 crore to pay arrears of the retrenched dock workers. We do not have any separate fund for that purpose,” said Director (Administration) Swapan Kumar, who is now working as acting chairman of Mongla Port Authority.