River transport workers begin strike

Recently, Department of Shipping and Shipping Ministry have introduced a five-year long certificate for vessels' masters and drivers instead of life long and postponed issuing new certificates.

The Noujan (river transport) Federation General Secretary Chowdhury Ashiqul Alam said they gave an ultimatum to the Shipping Department for removing all kinds of undemocratic rules including new two rules by October 7.

"At a meeting presided over by the Federation President Golam Moula, we decided to go for an indefinite strike from 12:01am on October 13," he told The Daily Star.

Shipping Department did not issue new certificates for drivers in the last 14 years while certificates for masters were not issued in the last two years, Ashiqul alleged.

Leaders of the Federation said they would not withdraw their strike until their demands are met.