Dhaka: Vessel workers on Sunday threatened to start a non-stop strike from midnight on Monday if a 15-point charter of demands, including announcement of Tk 10,000 as minimum wage, was not met before the deadline.  

Motor-run passenger ferries, fishing trawlers, cargo trawlers would stop operating as part of the nationwide strike.

Leaders of the Bangladesh Noujan Sramik Federation (BNSF) formally announced their plans at a news conference at Dhaka Reporters Unity on Sunday.

The leaders said they repeatedly pushed their demands for nod from the authorities, but they failed to get any effective response to their ‘legitimate demands’ for better perks and workplace safety.  

BNSF president Md Shah Ali Bhuiyan and general secretary Chowdhury Ashikul Alam said they had no other choices but to go with the strike plan to ensure the welfare of the vessel workers.  

Their other demands include stopping corruption in issuing certificate of launch drivers, masters and other technicians, announcing a well-clarified wage structure for riverine transport workers, ensuring full security of water vehicles in their routes and taking measures for better navigability.