A group of female students of Dhaka University have observed hunger strike demanding necessary measures to end their accommodation crisis.                                     They gathered in front of the Vice-Chancellor’s residence at 11 am on Monday and started hunger strike. The demands of the students include allocating 100% seats for them starting from the first year, abolishing the "Ghonoroom", managing temporary accommodation until new female halls are established and constructing new female dormitories inside the main campus. SUST students protest against discriminatory quotas and high fees Allowing non-resident female students to enter the female halls, cancelling the doubling system for beds, shifting  Kuwait-Maitree and Bangamata halls to the main campus by constructing new buildings are among their demands. University’s Pro-Vice Chancellor Sayma Haque Bidisha, met with the protesting students. The students ended their hunger strike at 4 pm upon assurance from the Pro-VC. Teachers should be honored with the highest status: Hasnat Abdullah Sadia Sultana Promi, a student of the Department of Sociology said, "The university administration has reassured us. They have promised to sit with us on Thursday. However, we have told them that we expect a decision. If our demands are not met, the female students will lay siege to the Vice-Chancellor's residence on Thursday afternoon."

In solidarity with the Bangladesh Shipping Workers Federation, workers at Baghabari Port in Shahjadpur, have launched an indefinite strike in response to the recent murder of seven people aboard a ship on the Meghna River in Chandpur.  The strike, called by the Bangladesh Shipping Workers Federation, began at midnight on Thursday, similar to strikes across the country. As a result, operations at Baghabari Port have come to a standstill. The workers are demanding strict punishment for those responsible for the murder of the seven staff of the MV Al Bakhera ship, Tk 20 lakh in compensation for the families of the deceased, and greater safety for waterways. 7 murdered on cargo vessel: Bodies handed over to families, probe committee formed Abu Daud Master, president of the Baghabari Launch Labour Association, said that operating a ship cannot be done by a single person. He stated that the tragic murder appears to have been planned, and there may be others involved who must be identified and brought to justice. Labour agent Dulal Hossain added that no ships are currently arriving at Baghabari Port due to the strike, leaving around 700 workers without employment. Baghabari BIWTA Deputy Director Asaduzzaman said that the authorities have been alerted about the situation. He assured that action would be taken based on the higher authorities’ decision.

Delivery drivers for Amazon and baristas at Starbucks staged strikes in multiple U.S. cities this past week, aiming to pressure the companies to recognize their unions or negotiate inaugural labor contracts. The strikes, which began on Thursday and Friday, come during the holiday season—a critical period for economic activity—providing workers with greater leverage. Organized labor has seen notable victories this year, with major concessions won by unions representing Boeing workers, dockworkers, and Las Vegas hospitality employees. However, Amazon and Starbucks workers continue to face challenges in securing their first contracts. Biden approves National Security Memo to assist Trump on key global issues Amazon drivers and warehouse employees, many of whom have voted to unionize, remain unrecognized by the e-commerce giant. The Teamsters union, which represents many Amazon workers, announced strikes at seven delivery stations in cities including Los Angeles, New York, and Atlanta. Additional strikes are planned at a major New York warehouse, which voted to unionize in 2022. The Teamsters are advocating for higher wages, better benefits, and improved safety measures, citing economic insecurity faced by employees despite Amazon’s valuation of $2.3 trillion. Amazon has countered these claims, highlighting its $22-per-hour base wage and recent pay increases for subcontracted drivers. The company disputes the union’s representation of its workers, arguing that delivery drivers are employed by contractors rather than Amazon directly. The National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) has challenged Amazon’s stance, filing a complaint in September that classified drivers as joint employees of the company. The NLRB has also accused Amazon of failing to negotiate with the Teamsters over drivers at a California delivery hub and has criticized the company for refusing to bargain with unionized warehouse workers. Trump brings chaos back to Washington by attempting to kill bipartisan budget deal with Musk's help At Starbucks, contract negotiations have been ongoing but remain unresolved. Starbucks Workers United, representing employees at over 500 U.S. stores, claims the company has failed to honor its February pledge to finalize a labor agreement by year-end. The union launched strikes in Chicago, Los Angeles, and Seattle, with actions spreading to Denver, Pittsburgh, and Columbus over the weekend. Labor leaders say dozens of stores are now affected, with strikes potentially escalating to hundreds by Christmas Eve. Union representatives criticized Starbucks’ proposed contract, which includes no immediate wage increases for unionized workers and only a 1.5% raise in future years. Starbucks, meanwhile, has defended its pay and benefits package, claiming baristas working 20 hours a week earn up to $30 per hour in total compensation. Trump taps immigration hard-liner Kari Lake as head of Voice of America The strikes at Amazon and Starbucks reflect broader labor unrest that gained momentum during the COVID-19 pandemic, highlighting economic inequality and frontline worker challenges. While some organizing efforts, including campaigns at Apple and Trader Joe’s, have succeeded, securing contracts has proven difficult. Experts suggest the urgency of these strikes is heightened by political developments. President-elect Donald Trump is expected to appoint a Republican-majority NLRB, which could make union efforts more challenging. Trump’s recent nomination of Rep. Lori Chavez-DeRemer, a Republican with union support, to lead the Department of Labor has sparked speculation about how his administration will approach labor issues. As holiday season strikes escalate, the outcomes may shape the future of labor relations at two of America’s most prominent consumer brands.

Workers at seven Amazon facilities went on strike Thursday, an effort by the Teamsters union to pressure the e-commerce company for a labor agreement during a key shopping period. The Teamsters said the workers, who voted to authorize strikes in recent days, joined picket lines after Amazon ignored a Sunday deadline the union set for contract negotiations. The union called it the largest strike yet against the company in the U.S., although Amazon said it did not expect the labor action to impact its operations. The International Brotherhood of Teamsters claims it represents nearly 10,000 workers at 10 Amazon facilities, a small portion of the 800,000 workers employed in the company's U.S. warehouses. The union hasn't said how many workers would participate in the strike or how long the walkout would last. “Amazon is pushing its workers closer to the picket line by failing to show them the respect they have earned,” Teamsters General President Sean O’Brien said in a statement. The strikes happening Thursday are taking place at seven delivery stations, where packages are prepared for delivery vehicles and then given to contractors who drop off them off to customers every day. They include three locations in Southern California, and one each in San Francisco, New York City, Atlanta, Georgia, and Skokie, Illinois, according to the union’s announcement. Two people were taken into custody at the demonstration in the New York City borough of Queens, according to the New York Police Department. Police did not say why the arrests were made. They said the individuals were given criminal court summons and then released. Nissan and Honda Explore Collaboration, Dismiss Merger Speculation The biggest warehouse affiliated with the Teamsters is located in the New York City borough of Staten Island. In 2022, thousands of workers at the warehouse, known as JFK8, voted to be represented by the nascent Amazon Labor Union. Workers then choose to affiliate with the Teamsters this past summer. The National Labor Relations Board certified that election to unionize, but Amazon has refused to bargain on a contract. In the process, the company has filed a lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of the labor board. At the facilities striking Thursday, workers unionized with the Teamsters by demonstrating majority support but without holding government-administered elections. They include Amazon-employed warehouse workers in San Francisco, and subcontracted delivery drivers elsewhere. Under labor law, companies can recognize unions without elections being held, but the practice is rare, said John Logan, director of labor and employment studies at San Francisco State University. Amazon workers in more locations are “prepared to join” the fight, the Teamsters said, noting that employees at the Staten Island warehouse and at a company air hub in California also have authorized strikes. When asked about the strike Thursday, Amazon spokesperson Kelly Nantel said: “What you see here are almost entirely outsiders, not Amazon employees or partners, and the suggestion otherwise is just another lie from the Teamsters.” “The truth is that they were unable to get enough support from our employees and partners and have brought in outsiders to come and harass and intimidate our team, which is inappropriate and dangerous,” Nantel said. Seattle-based Amazon has said it does not consider delivery drivers like the ones on strike to be its employees. Under the company's business model, the drivers work for third-party businesses, called Delivery Service Partners, who deliver millions of packages daily. Amazon has accused the union, which says it represents some of the drivers, of “intentionally” misleading the public. “This is another attempt to push a false narrative,” Nantel said. But the Teamsters have argued Amazon essentially controls everything the drivers do and should be classified as their employer. U.S. labor regulators have sided with the union in filings made before the NLRB. In September, Amazon boosted pay for the drivers amid the growing pressure. Though Amazon says it does not expect the strike to impact its operations, a walkout — especially one that lasts many days — could delay shipments in some metro areas. Shares of Amazon.com Inc. rose about 1.3% Thursday but were slightly down in after-hours trading.

Lawyers in Chattogram went on a two-day strike on Wednesday to protest the killing of lawyer Saiful Islam Alif amid clashes among members of law enforcement agencies, lawyers, and followers of Chinmoy Krishna Das Brahmachari, spokesperson of Sammilita Sanatani Jagaran Jote. The court activities remained suspended since morning and the lawyers gathered on the court premises to demand the immediate arrest of the perpetrators, said witnesses. Besides, thousands of people joined the namaz-e-janaza of Saiful Islam on the court premises at 10 am and at Jamiatul Falah National Mosque ground at 11:30 am. A protest rally was staged where lawyers voiced their outrage and sought justice for their slain colleague. Land Affairs Adviser AF Hassan Ariff, Chattogram City Corporation Mayor Dr Shahadat Hossain, Jamaat-e-Islami Chattogram Metropolitan Ameer Shahjahan Chowdhury, Anti-Discrimination Student Movement Coordinator Hasnat Abdullah, Sarjis Alam, Russell Ahmed, and Talat Mahmud Rafi, among others, joined the protest rally. Later, leaders from various political parties and student coordinators described Hindu religious organisation ISKCON as a fundamentalist militant group and demanded an immediate ban on ISKCON's activities in Bangladesh. Read: 33 arrested over lawyer murder, violence in Ctg They warned of continued protests if their demands are not met. Lawyer Saiful Islam was killed amid clashes among police, lawyers and supporters of former ISKCON leader Chinmoy Krishna Das on Tuesday after the court rejected the leader’s bail in a sedition case. Witnesses said unidentified people took him to nearby Jangal Cinema Lane on the ground floor of the court, beat him up and then hacked him to death. The unrest began when thousands of his followers of Chinmoy gathered on the court premises and obstructed the prison van carrying him, demanding his immediate release.

The long-route transport owners of Benapole have announced an indefinite strike starting Saturday morning, leading to severe hardships for passengers on both sides of the border. Bablur Rahman Babu, president of the Benapole Transport Association, said that a recent meeting between local and transport authorities addressed the ongoing traffic congestion in Benapole. As a result of the congestion, authorities ordered bus owners to relocate operations from the checkpost terminal to the Kagoj Pukur terminal, located 4 kilometers away from Benapole, which has caused significant inconvenience for travelers. “In response to these changes, the Transport Owners Association has decided to halt all bus services between Dhaka and Benapole,” he added. For the past 20 years, buses traveling from Dhaka and Chattogram have been dropping passengers directly at the port’s checkpost terminal, with empty buses then parking at the terminal. However, recent changes now require these buses to drop passengers at a more distant terminal, causing security concerns and delays. One passenger, Mehedi Hasan, recounted his experience to UNB: "After arriving from Dhaka, we were dropped off at the Municipal terminal, four kilometers from the border, at 3 am. After waiting at a tea shop for two hours, I had to take a bike to the border in the morning." He added, "We want the buses to operate from the transport terminal at the checkpost." Passengers traveling to India have also expressed frustration, citing a new terminal built on the Indian side of the border at Petrapole to ease travel. In contrast, the terminal in Bangladesh at the border is being closed and passengers are being redirected to a terminal four kilometers away. This has caused significant hardship for travelers. Benapole Municipal Council Administrator Dr. Kazi Nazir Hasan explained that this decision was made to alleviate traffic congestion at the port. However, long-distance buses will be permitted to drop passengers directly at the Benapole check post between midnight and 6am.  

Director of Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation (BPC) Anupam Barua has said that the organization is monitoring the petroleum fuel supply situation in the country and strict action will be taken if the petrol pump owners do not call off the ongoing strike. “Strict action will be taken from tomorrow (Monday) if the filling station owners’ strike is not withdrawn and fuel supply is disrupted across the country,” said while addressing a press conference at the Boardroom of the Jamuna Oil Company, a subsidiary of the BPC, on Sunday, in the city. He said some of the demands of the petrol pump owners have been met while the rest are under consideration. “The government has taken time till September 30. So, any movement in this situation is unacceptable,” he told reporters. Meanwhile, leaders of a faction of Bangladesh Petrol Pumps Owners Association (BPPOA) has claimed that the leaders of other faction who have called strike are “nobody of the organization”. “Those leaders were expelled from the organisation for their misappropriation of funds,” said Nazmul Haque, president of the faction of BPPOA which opposed the strike. BPC incurs Tk 63 crore loss a day in petroleum sale, but experts suggest cut on import duty “Since, the government has already met one of our three demands and assured for meeting the other two within September 30, we don’t support this strike”, he said while addressing at a press conference in the Jamuna Oil’s meeting room in the city on Sunday. Earlier, the faction of the BPPOA, led by Syed Sazzadul Karim Kabul and Mizanur Rahman Ratan, president and secretary general respectively, announced the strike programme at a press conference at Dhaka Reporters Unity on August 27. They said that the members of the organisation will begin the strike for an indefinite period at the petrol pumps from September 2 unless their demands are met by August 31. BPDB’s extra purchase order of petroleum puts BPC in trouble As a result, an indefinite strike called by fuel traders in Khulna is underway since this morning (September 03, 2023) to realise their three-point demand including hiking commission on fuel sales. Moving fuel from Padma, Jamuna and Meghna oil depots has remained suspended since 8 am.Bangladesh Tank-Lorry Owners’ Association, Bangladesh Fuel Oil Distributors Association, Khulna Divisional Tank-Lorry Workers’ Union and Padma, Meghna and Jamuna Tank-Lorry Workers’ Welfare Association are observing the strike. BPCC protests vandalisation of idols and arrest of Gouranga Their demands include raising commission on fuel sales to at least 7.5 percent, setting the tank-lorry economic life to 50 years, and issuing a gazette notification mentioning fuel traders as commission agents as per previous pledges.

An indefinite strike called by fuel traders in Khulna is underway since this morning (September 03, 2023) to realise their three-point demand including hiking commission on fuel sales. Moving fuel from Padma, Jamuna and Meghna oil depots has remained suspended since 8 am. Bangladesh Tank-Lorry Owners’ Association, Bangladesh Fuel Oil Distributors Association, Khulna Divisional Tank-Lorry Workers’ Union and Padma, Meghna and Jamuna Tank-Lorry Workers’ Welfare Association are observing the strike. Their demands include raising commission on fuel sales to at least 7.5 percent, setting the tank-lorry economic life to 50 years, and issuing a gazette notification mentioning fuel traders as commission agents as per previous pledges. Read: Khulna fuel traders threaten strike from Sept 3 if demands not met As news of the strike surfaced earlier, a huge number of motorbikes and private vehicles were seen forming queues at fuel pumps in Khulna on Saturday night. Claiming their demands as logical, Md Muraduzzaman, a leader of petrol pump owners’ association, said they were forced to start the strike from Sunday morning as their demands were not met by August 31. The strike will end when their three-point demand is met, he said. Read: Sylhet’s Osmani hospital’s intern doctors call off strike

Fuel traders in Khulna threatened to go for an indefinite strike from September 3 if their three-point demand, including raising sales commission, is not met by August 31.Abdul Gaffar Biswas, president of Khulna District Petrol Pump Owners Association made the announcement after a meeting with fuel traders in the New Market area of Khulna city on Wednesday night. Sylhet’s Osmani hospital’s intern doctors call off strikeBesides raising sales commission, the other demands are setting the tank-lorry economic life to 50 years and issuing a gazette notification as per the pledges. Ambulance owners call strike from TuesdayAbdul Gaffar said they have placed their three-point demand several times but the government did not pay heed. That’s why the fuel traders decided to go for an indefinite strike from September 3. One-Point Demand: Over 200 freedom fighters to observe hunger strike in city Monday  

Bangladesh Ambulance Owners Welfare Association has called for an indefinite nationwide strike to press home their six-point demand, including the withdrawal of taxes imposed by Bangladesh Road Transport Authority(BRTA). The strike of private ambulance owners will begin on Tuesday (July 25, 2023) if the demands are not met by today, said Gulam Mostafa, President of the Bangladesh Ambulance Owners Welfare Association on Monday. Not enough fuel allocation means no ambulance service at Faridpur General Hospital for 45 days Other demands include formation of a national policy on ambulances and the implementation of prime minister’s announced toll-free facility for ambulances. The ambulance owners also demanded parking facilities at all hospitals in the country, the facility to fill up fuel at filling stations without having to wait in lines while transporting a patient, and uninterrupted travel on roads. 4 dead, 3 injured as truck collides with ambulance in Gopalganj