The decision came at a meeting between the water transport workers’ federation and the cargo vessel owners at the Ministry of Labour and Employment on Thursday
 
The water transport workers have withdrawn the cargo vessel strike, as the vessel owners have assured them of providing food allowance.

Bangladesh Water Transport Workers' Federation President Md Shah Alam announced the decision after a meeting with the owners’ association on Thursday evening, held at the Ministry of Labour and Employment.

“We have withdrawn the strike after getting confirmation of food allowance,” he said.

Minister of State for Labour Begum Monnujan Sufian chaired the meeting.

“With the intervention of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, we have overcome the crisis. Getting food allowance was an old demand from the workers, which has now been met,” she said.

Also Read: Khalid: Cargo strike to end by Thursday, hopefully

Water transport workers across Bangladesh called a countrywide cargo vessel strike on Tuesday to press home their 11-point demand. The strike continued till Thursday.

The demands include payment of salaries of water transport workers as per the gazette announced in 2016, food allowance, health care equipment, provision of appointment letters, issuing identity cards and service books to workers, ensuring their social security, compensation of Tk10 lakh for those killed in workplace accidents, and effective measures to stop extortion on the waterways.