Resuming Public Transport: Workers to stage demo tomorrow

Bangladesh Road Transport Workers Federation yesterday announced programmes, including demonstrations, demanding immediate resumption of public transport services, which remain suspended due to the Covid-19 restrictions.

The federation came up with a three-point demand taking into consideration the sufferings of thousands of workers in the sector, it said at a press conference at the capital's Jatiya Press Club.

As per the announcement, road transport workers will stage demonstrations across the country tomorrow and submit a memorandum to the deputy commissioner in every district on May 4 to press home their demands.

In the two other demands, they asked for providing financial assistance to transport workers and selling rice at Tk 10 per kg at the bus terminals.

Meanwhile, Bangladesh Road Transport Owners Association also demanded resumption of public transport during the "lockdown", according to a press statement from the platform.

Operations of public transport, mainly those of bus and minibus, have remained suspended since April 5 when the government imposed restrictions on the people's movement and public transport to contain the spread of Covid-19.

However, buses were allowed to operate in 11 cities for a week from April 7 at half capacity.

The demands came at a time when authorities and experts fear that tens of thousands people may leave Dhaka before Eid to celebrate the festival at home and that the mad-rush may further spread the Covid-19 infection.

Many of the experts recommended checking the mad rush as the country is now battling the second wave of the viral disease, which is taking a heavy toll on human lives.

In his written speech at the press conference, Osman Ali, general secretary of the Road Transport Workers Federation, said around 50 lakh workers became jobless and their livelihood became uncertain ahead of the Eid-ul-Fitr.

"They are leading a miserable life along with their family members. In this given situation, if road transport workers take to the street, the Road Transport Workers Federation will not take any responsibility for it," he said.

Osman said in the absence of buses and minibuses, people are boarding auto-rickshaws, three-wheelers and other small vehicles, spending extra and also exposing themselves to the risk of Covid-19 infection.

So, the government should allow operations of buses and minibuses at 50 percent capacity. The operations should continue maintaining all types of health safety guidelines, he said.

Citing almost similar grounds, in a press statement, signed by its Secretary General Khondaker Enayet Ullah, Bangladesh Road Transport Owners Association demanded the government give food aid to the workers and allow public transport operations.

On Thursday, Bangladesh Road Truck Owners Association, another major association of transport owners, urged the government to resume public transport from yesterday considering the plight of transport owners and workers.

They also demanded allocation of Tk 5,000 crore as special incentive at a low interest rate for the sector so that they could give salary and bonus to their staffers ahead of the Eid and repair vehicles.