Bangladesh Lighterage Sramik Union, an association of the lighterage vessel workers, went on an indefinite strike across the country on Saturday to press home their several demands, including security waterways.
Abu Taher, president of the union, announced the strike from a meeting here on Friday night.Loading and unloading of goods remained halted as lighterage vessels lay anchored at the outer anchorage in Chittagong port due to the strike.
A gang of pirates swooped on a Sirajganj-bound fertiliser-laden lighterage vessel when it reached Batirkhal in Laxmipur district on Friday and looted the fertiliser on Friday night.
Seven workers of the vessel out of 10 went missing during the incident, said Abu Taher.
As the authorities concerned did not pay any heed to their demands despite repeated requests, they decided to enforce the strike, said the union president.
Their union is firm to continue the strike until they see all their demands are met, he added.
Meanwhile, police rescued three of the missing workers from the Meghna River in Kamalnagar upazila of Laxmipur on Saturday noon.
The rescued workers are Parvez Hossain, son of Jasim Uddin in Hatia upazila of Noakhali district, Mahbub Hossain, son of late Abdul Aziz of Shyampur village in Sadar upazila of Bhola district, and Zahidul Islam, son of Maksudul Khan of Charnarayan Malka Bhanga village in Faridpur district.
Police said they with the help of locals rescued the three workers from Charkalkini area of the upazila. – UNB
