6 lakh tonnes of goods stranded at Ctg port amid strike

Almost six lakh tonnes of commodities have been left unattended at the Chattogram port as water-based freight workers observe an indefinite work abstention to press home their demands for security and a fair investigation into the Chandpur seven sailor murder incident.

The strike entered its second day Saturday having begun at 12am Friday.

Bangladesh Lighterage Workers Union General Secretary Afsar Hossain Chowdhury told this correspondent that the strike continues as no consensus has been reached between the administration and workers.

If the situation does not improve fast, the inland water-based supply chain would collapse – a crisis not even the workers want to face, Afsar said urging swift resolution to the crisis.

Almost 20,000 workers of over 2,000 vessels have joined the strike in Chattogram, stopping cargo loading-unloading activities at the 16 river ghats of Chattogram port. Vessels stranded in the port carry wheat, lentils, soybean seed, fertilizer, coal, and raw material for cement production.

Seven people were killed on board MV Al Bakhera, and on Monday their bodies were recovered from the vessel at a charland in Chandpur.

A day later Akash Mondol alias Irfan, the lone unharmed survivor among the crew, was detained from Bagerhat. Later, he confessed to killing his boss over unpaid wages, and six other colleagues out of fear of getting caught.