Around 1.5 lakh water transport workers under five labour organisations began an indefinite strike from 12:00 last night to press home their 22-point demand.

The strike will continue until fulfilment of their demands, said Golam Mowla, president of Bangladesh Noujan Sramik Federation.

The demands include raising wages of the workers, stepping up security in the waterways to stop extortion and robbery, restoring navigability of the rivers and canals through regular dredging and checking corruption at the shipping department.

Sources in the labour bodies concerned claimed the workers have long been deprived of reasonable wages due to lack of sincerity of river transport owners and government officials.

Contacted, Secretary General of the federation Chowdhury Ashiqul Alam said, “We have been placing our demands since this government assumed office, but it all went in vain. Now we have no alternative but to go for strike action.”

Meanwhile, leaders of the federation and officials of Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA) held meetings on Thursday and Friday but could not reach any agreement.

Asked about this, Md Shafiqul Haque, BIWTA director (traffic), said, “It is a matter for the Directorate of Labour. We have no function here.”

The five labour organisations are Bangladesh Launch Labour Association, Rangamati Parbatya Zila Noujan Sramik Union, Samudrik Matshya Shikari Jahaj Sramik Union, Bangladesh Jahaj Sramik Sangha and Cargo-Trawler Sramik Union.

In related developments, different NGOs and other organisations including Green Club of Bangladesh, Save Waterway Implementation Movement, and Citizens Rights Movements expressed solidarity with the striking workers.