No strike, work abstention before election

Amidst strong criticism over their recent strike, road transport workers have backtracked from tougher movement before the general election expected to be held next month.

Instead of strike or work abstention, they will hold rallies across the country and talks with civil society members and journalists to “make people aware of their logical demands”, transport leaders said.

Federation leaders will hold a meeting with the home minister today, they said.

“After election, we will go for tougher programme,” Osman Ali, general secretary of Bangladesh Road Transport Workers Federation, told The Daily Star last night.

The federation took the decisions in an extended meeting at its Segun Bagicha office in the capital yesterday. Shipping Minister Shajahan Khan, also the executive president of the federation, was present at the meeting.

The federation observed a 48-hour work abstention from October 28 to press home its eight-point demand, including amendments to the recently-passed Road Transport Act.

As the government did not communicate to the platform over its demands, it threatened to enforce a 96-hour strike in the third week of next month.

But the federation decided not to go for strike as the previous one triggered nationwide condemnation following some incidents, leaders said.

Three infants died during the strike as agitating transport workers did not allow vehicles carrying them to pass. A group of transport workers smeared burnt engine oil on faces of drivers who defied the strike.

“People across the country went against us due to some incidents. We have taken time to present the logic of our demands before them,” Osman said.

SHAJAHAN ANGRY OVER INCIDENTS DURING STRIKE

Another leader, who was present at the meeting, said Shajahan Khan expressed anger over these incidents, saying that even his family members went against him over the issue.

“If you want me in the leadership position [of the organisation] you have to refrain from all unlawful activities,” the leader quoted Shajahan as saying.

The federation blamed another group of transport workers, who are not members of the federation, for the incidents and has written to the home minister to take necessary action, the leader said wishing not to be named.

The parliament on September 19 passed the Road Transport Act-2018 amid criticism over inadequate punishment for deaths in road accidents.

But the federation termed several sections of the act “very stringent” and “irrational” and pressed for its amendment.

Their demands include making all offences under the Road Transport Act bailable, scrapping the provision for the fine of Tk 5 lakh on a worker for involvement in a road accident, changing the minimum educational qualification required to obtain driving licences from class-VIII to class-V, and an end to harassment by police on roads. 545454