48-hour transport strike in 10 dists from Wednesday

A 48-hour transport strike has been called in 10 southwestern districts under Khulna division from Wednesday morning.

The  regional committee of Bangladesh Road Transport Workers' Federation (Bangladesh Sarak Paribaharn Sramik Federation) announced the programme on Friday afternoon.

The federation put forward a number of demands including lifting the provision of action against  the transport workers under Section 302 for road accidents, stopping police harassment in the name of vehicle check or test, easing of steps for issuance of  driving license, demolition of illegal structures on roads and highways, ban on plying of Nasimon, Karimon, Alamsadhu and other locally made illegal vehicles on highways and stopping extortion at ferry ghats.

General Secretary of the organisation Abdur Rahim Bux Dudu, said the decision to go on strike was taken at a meeting of the committee on December 17.

“Our demands were sent to the ministries of law, roads and highways, shipping and home. But none paid any heed to our demands, leaving us with no alternative to calling the strike,” Rahim Bux told a gathering in Kushtia held as part of  their campaign  to make the strike a success.

The announcement of the strike will also be discussed at a press conference on December 29 in Jessore, he said.

Leaders of the organisation from different districts addressed the Kushtia meeting.

Azizul Alam Mintu, president of the organisation said, allout move to make the transport strike a success in 10 districts will be taken.

Similar programmes will also be enforced in the other parts of the country to realise the demands, Azizul said.

Contacted, Sihab Uddin, president of Bus Owner's Association (BOA) in Kushtia told this correspondent that they were yet to take any decision to join the strike.