The launch workers in Khulna have also embarked on a 48-hour strike besides transport owners since Friday morning, demanding a hike in wages.
Delwar Hossain, divisional organisational secretary of Bangladesh Launch Labour Association, said they called the strike to press home their ten-point demands, including wage hike, "and it has no connection with the BNP’s mass rally slated for Saturday," reports UNB.
The workers on strike said their demands included wage hike, river excavation from Bhairab to Nowapara, and landing pass for India-bound launches.
A total of 15 launches ply on a southern route from Khulna but none of them left terminals since Friday morning, giving passengers a harrowing time.
From Thursday evening, none of the passenger carrying launches left Khulna due to the strike announcement but freight launches and boats have been operating.
Earlier, Khulna Bus-Minibus Owners' Association and the Motor Workers’ Union decided to go on a two-day strike in protest against the plying of unauthorised three-wheelers.
Bd-pratidin English/Golam Rosul
