Self-Reporter: Launchl workers are on strike across the country in protest of sending two masters to jail without bail in a launch accident case. They announced the strike on Monday (January 25th) at around 2pm.

Shah Alam Chowdhury, president of the Bangladesh Shipping Workers Federation, said the case was bailable. But the masters were not granted bail.Operation of all types of vessels will remain suspended across the country until bail is granted.

He added that the workers went on strike spontaneously expressing their solidarity with the movement. It is reported that all the passenger launches have been removed from Dhaka, Barisal and Chandpur terminals by noon.

The workers informed that a collision took place between Adventure-1 and Adventure-9 at Harinaghat in Chandpur 1 year ago. There was fog in the river at that time.There was no report of casualty in the crash, but the launch was damaged. Later, a lawsuit was filed in the Marine Court.

The sudden strike caused severe sufferings to the passengers. People were seen waiting at the terminals,some were seen leaving the terminals following this uncertainty.

Two masters were on bail, but as they appeared before the court on Monday, their bail was canceled and were sent to jail.