Section of goods transport owners, workers vow 48hr strike if demands not met

A group of owners and workers of goods-carrying vehicles today vowed to go for a 48-hour work abstention from September 27 if the government does not meet their 10-point demand within September 26.

Bangladesh Truck-Covered Van, Tank Lorry, Prime Mover Owners and Workers' Coordination Council made the announcement at a press conference in Dhaka's Jatiya Press Club today.

Osman Ali, general secretary of Bangladesh Road Transport Worker's Federation, which is backing the platform, read out the statement.

"We want written treaty over our demands. We will not retreat from our demands based on verbal assurance," Osman Ali said.

On August 21, Bangladesh Truck-Covered Van, Tank Lorry, Prime Mover Owners and Workers' Coordination Council called a 48-hour work abstention from September 27 to press home their demands.

Their demands include withdrawing murder cases against drivers under section 302 of the penal code for road accidents, solving driving licence-related complexities, withdrawing the "additional" advance income tax and allowing them to update their vehicles' documents without having to pay any fine amid the Covid-19 pandemic.

Rustam Ali Khan, convener of the platform, said the home minister will hold a meeting with them on September 26 to discuss their demands.

"We don't want to go for work abstention. We want our demands to be met," he added.

The council came up with the announcement, a day after another group of owners and workers of goods transport, who have been enforcing a 72-hour strike from Tuesday, withdrew their programme yesterday.