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The strike demanding the release of two launch masters sent to jail custody in connection with an accident last year, was called off by union leaders around 11 pm on Monday.
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"The strike has been withdrawn following a fruitful discussion with the authorities concerned," said Md Shah Alam, president of Bangladesh Water Transport Workers' Federation.
Water transport workers in Barishal and Sadarghat went on an indefinite strike on Monday afternoon in protest against the rejection of bail pleas of the two launch masters by a local court.
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Abul Hashem Master, president of Barishal unit of the Water Transport Workers’ Federation, said a launch named ‘Adventure-1' collided with ‘Adventure-9’ in the Meghna river last year due to poor visibility caused by dense fog. However, no one was injured in the accident.
A court subsequently confiscated the certificates of four persons, including two masters of the launch -- Ruhul Amin and Jamal Hossain.
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Later, on Monday, a court sent them to judicial custody after rejecting their bail petitions in the case when both the lauch masters appeared before the magistrate.
As soon as the news spread, the water transport workers enforced an indefinite strike on Monday afternoon, halting launch services on Dhaka-Barishal route.