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Water transport strike continues

By Staff Correspondent
Sufferings of the passengers mounted and normal business suffered on private motorised cargo and passenger carriers remained docked for the second day Sunday.
Owners of the vessels called an Indefinite strike since midnight Friday demanding reduction of fuel prices to the pre-Gulf war level.
No such vessels plied In the 35 Inland water routes in the country. The striking owners did not allow plying tit the ships and other vessels belong to the Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Corporation (BIWTC) by putting barricades on rivers at different parts of the country as a rest/lt, the BIWTC owned vessels had to be anchored at various places.
Passengers went to Sadarghat terminal. Sunday also but were found returning after a long wait. Most of the terminals wore a deserted look. At places, sailing of a few mechanised boats were attempted but were stopped by the striking owners and their employees.
Suspension of operation of about 5,000 private passenger carriers, cargoes, trawlers, barges, and tugs also seriously affected the city food markets. Prices of perishable goods including rice and vegetables shot up.
According to our Narayanganj correspondent, the BIWTC steamer Rocket plying between Dhaka and Khulna failed to reach Dhaka
due to barricades on the river Buriganga. The steamer was later routed to Narayanganj and anchored at the BIWTC terminal there at 2.30 pm Sunday. The steamer started from Khulna Friday night for Dhaka. BIWTC sources said, it will sail for Khulna from Narayanganj instead of Dhaka
Barricades were also put at various points on the river Shitalakhya a number of engine boats were floated on the Shitalakhya blit the strikers stopped those.
. Prices of essentials, rose at the Narayanganj markets due to the strike. BIWTC sources said, it had instructed the river traffic police to remain alert against any untoward fncident.
There was no talk between the government and the striking vessel owners till Sunday night.
Meanwhile, a number of leaders of the Council of Inland Water Transport Owners told this correspondent Ihal they would continue the strike till the government reduce the diesel price to Taka 6.75 from Taka 13.71 per litre.
According to available statistics, the riverine transports carry 70 per cent inland cargo. 99 per cent petroleum products and 65 per cent of total passengers.
The organisations which Jointly called the Indefinite strike were: Bangladesh Inland Waler passenger carriers Owners Association. Bangladesh Launch Owners Association, Bangladesh Cargo Vessels Owners Association. Bangladesh Coaster Owners Association, Bangladesh OU Tanker Owners Association. Bangladesh Jute Goods Carrier Owners Association and Bangladesh Deep Sea Fishing Association.