Launch strike begins

Launch owners on Saturday started strike demanding a 100 per cent hike in launch fares due to fuel oil price hike.

The decision of the strike was made following a meeting of launch owners held at its city’s Paltan office in Dhaka on Friday. They arranged the meeting amid the rise of diesel price by Tk 15 per liter.

Earlier, in the meeting, launch owners decided to continue the launch movement even though the bus and truck strike started across the country. It was opined in the meeting that if the fare of launch is not increased by Saturday then they will also go on strike.

However, the launch owners called for the strike as no decision was taken as per their demand within the deadline.

About the strike, Bangladesh Inland Waterways (Passenger Carriers) Association (BIWWA) chairman Mahbub Uddin Ahmed said they sent a letter to authorities concerned demanding 100 per cent increase in launch fares.

“We were supposed to announce our decision on Saturday. We decided to go on strike as our demand is not fulfilled.”

Meanwhile, the Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA) will hold a meeting with the launch owners and workers on Sunday to reschedule the launch fare.

BIWTA director Rafiqul Islam said a decision on the fare hike would be taken after a meeting with BIWWA on Sunday afternoon.