Cargo transport from Chattogram halted due to strike

Water transport workers have enforced an indefinite work abstention from midnight, halting cargo transport from Chattogram to different parts of the country.

Bangladesh Water Transport Workers Federation announced the strike demanding arrest of the culprits involved in the brutal killing of seven crew of lighter vessel MV Al Bakhera in Chandpur on December 23.

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Unloading of imported cargo from lighter vessels at 16 private ghats on the bank of river Karnaphuli stretching from Banglabazar to Sadarghat has been suspended since midnight, said Afsar Hossain Chowdhury, General Secretary of Bangladesh Lighterage Workers Union.

Operation of lighter vessels carrying imported cargo from Chattogram to different destinations has also remained halted, he added.

At least 40 lighter vessels with import cargo sail from the outer anchorage of Chattogram port everyday to 39 different destinations including Dhaka, Narayanganj, Barishal, Chandpur, Khulna, Baghabari, Ashuganj and others.

The federation's president Shah Alam said their demands include unearthing the facts behind the horrific incident in AL Bakhera, arrest of culprits, compensation for the deceased and injured, and overall security for water transport workers on inland water routes stretching from Kutubdia to Chandpur.

Seven workers of lighter vessel MV Al Bakhera, which was carrying 720 tonnes of urea from Chattogram to Baghabari, were killed in the early hours on December 23 while it was anchored at Chandpur.

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Alam said the statement from law enforcers that Akash Mondol (Irfan), a crew, acted alone in the killings has been rejected by the workers.

"We demand a proper investigation by the government into the real mystery of this incident," Shah Alam said.