Water transport workers on indefinite strike

Munshiganj Water Transport Workers' Union went on an indefinite strike on Tuesday midnight, protesting rampant extortion and attacks on its workers.

Plying of nearly 15 thousand sand carrying boats, locally known as bulkheads, have been kept suspended since the strike was called.

The workers staged demonstrations in the launch terminal area demanding trial of the culprits who beat up six bulkhead workers the same day.

A gang led by local criminals Karim, Suruj and Yeamin demanded toll from some water transport workers in Char Kishoreganj area in the Meghna River on Tuesday afternoon. 

Workers stand on the road with posters imprinted with their demand. Photo: Star

As they denied paying the toll, the gang swooped on the water transport workers, leaving six of them injured.

Of the injured, Taiyab Hossain, 40, Shahabuddin, 30, Sohag, 35, Shafiq, 28, and Rahman, 25, were admitted to Dhaka Medical College Hospital with serious injuries, Munshiganj Water Transport Workers' Union President Taijul Islam Badsha said.

The indefinite strike has been called protesting the attack, Badsha, also joint-general secretary of Bangladesh Water Transport Workers' Union, said.

"We will continue our strike until the rampant extortion and attacks on water transport workers are not stopped," Badsha added.