Transport workers hold city hostage

It is utterly preposterous that a city can be held hostage by transport workers protesting the punishment of a co-worker caught charging extra bus fare to passengers. But this is what happened on Sunday leaving thousands of people stranded on the roads with no means to get to their destination. The suffering of passengers is immeasurable when buses go on strike – this time the bus workers blocked major thoroughfares – preventing other vehicles to pass.

Such total defiance of the law cannot be tolerated. The BRTA (Bangladesh Road Transport Authority)'s sentencing the errant bus helper to a month's imprisonment was a legal measure and did not warrant such arrogance from the transport workers. If there were genuine grievances they could be addressed through the legal process.

We laud the BRTA director's (enforcement) firm stance to continue the drive against illegal increase of fare, unfit vehicles on the roads and fake driving licenses. Drivers and helpers, who violate the law, causing grievous accidents and forcing passengers to pay unlawful fares, must be brought to book. Blocking of roads and paralysing the city by bus workers for unjustified demands cannot be indulged. Here the steel will of the government should be expressed against such moves rather than on peaceful public protests as is often the case.