Water transport workers on Thursday announced indefinite strike from Friday midnight demanding arrest of the culprits involved in brutal killing of seven crewmen of a lighter vessel on Monday.
Bangladesh Water Transport Workers Federation also demanded of the authorities to ensure workers' safety and security on the routes from Kutubdia to Chandpur.
Seven workers of lighter vessel MV Al Bakhera carrying 720 tonnes of urea from Chattogram to Baghabari met a tragic end early Monday. It was anchored near Harina Ferry Ghat in Chandpur.
Federation President Shah Alam told reporters that workers of all types of goods-laden vessels would go on the work abstention.
A meeting later in the evening would decide if passenger vessel workers would join the work abstention, he added.
He said the statement of law enforcers on killing the crew has been rejected by workers as incocorrect.
Akash Mondol was arrested by RAB-11 in Bagerhat's Chitalmari area on Tuesday night.
RAB said Irfan killed the seven out of rage triggered by unpaid wages and ship master Golam Kibira's misconduct. After the killing, the accused navigated the ship alone before it ran aground.
Water transport workers' demands include unearthing the facts behind such horrific killings and arrests of culprits, compensation for the deceased and injured, and overall security for water transport workers on inland water routes stretching from Kutubdia to Chandpur.
Shah Alam said the strike followed a 72-hour ultimatum during which authorities failed to act on their demands.
Nabi Alam, the federation's joint secretary, stated that operating a vessel like MV Al Bakhera requires at least 4-5 people to lift the anchor and manage tasks, as the bridge and engine room are in separate locations.
It is difficult even for a skilled master to do such things without help, he said.
He said workers don't believe the RAB officials' statements quoting the arrested person.
