Goods transport strike called in Ctg

A 48-hour goods transport strike in greater Chittagong from tomorrow was declared by transport owners and workers yesterday.

“Ponyo Paribahan Malik-Sramik Oikya Parishad” called the strike in a press release to press home their five point demands.  

Their demands include reversal of the exorbitant hike in the road use tax collected by Chittagong City Corporation (CCC), start issuing driving licences under heavy vehicle category, building separate terminals for heavy trucks or prime movers and lower custom duty on imported vehicles parts.   

Abu Bakkar Siddik, member secretary of the oikya parishad, told The Daily Star that the CCC has set the road use tax at Tk 10,000 for each vehicle -- a 20-fold hike compared to Tk 500 during the tenure of the last mayor.

Under the new overload charge, to be enforced from November 1, transport owners will have to pay between Tk 3,000 and Tk 12,000. The charge was Tk 2,000 previously. 

Raising these taxes and charges are not only unreasonable and oppressive, but will also create a burden on end users with high prices of commodities, he explained. 

“All type of transport vehicles including trucks, prime movers, covered vans and tank lorries will remain off roads and highways to press home our five point demands,” Abu Bakkar also said.