Transport bodies threaten 72-hour nationwide strike over unmet demands

Transport owners and workers on Sunday issued a 15-working day ultimatum to fulfil their eight-point demand, including amendments to the Road Transport Act-2018.

They warned of enforcing a 72-hour nationwide transport strike from 6am on August 12 to 6am on August 15 if their demands are not met.

The announcement came from a joint press conference held at the Jatiya Press Club by the Bangladesh Road Transport Owners' Association, the Bus-Truck Owners Association and the Road Transport Workers' Federation.

In a written statement, Saiful Alam, Secretary General of the Bangladesh Road Transport Owners' Association, said the ultimatum follows recent BRTA drives to remove buses and trucks older than 20 and 25 years, respectively.

This has led to regional transport strikes in several districts, sparking fears of a broader disruption across the country.

To resolve the issue, a joint meeting of the three national transport organisations and divisional leaders was held on July 20, where the 15-day resolution window was finalised. Failure to meet their demands within this period, they warned, would lead to a countrywide strike.

The eight-point charter includes amendments to Sections 98 and 105 of the Road Transport Act-2018 and other relevant clauses. It also demands extending the economic life limit of commercial vehicles from the current 20-25 years to 30 years.

The transport leaders said vehicles should be removed from operation based on fitness and environmental standards, regardless of age.

They, however, insisted that the earlier policy allowing fit old vehicles to operate outside metropolitan areas must remain in place. They also called for an immediate suspension of BRTA drives against old vehicles until these matters are resolved.

Additional demands include reducing the recently increased presumptive income tax on commercial vehicles to previous levels, extending the import age limit for commercial reconditioned vehicles-including buses, trucks, covered vans, and prime movers-from 5 to 12 years, and formulating a scrappage policy for old vehicles.

They also urged the authorities to implement a policy requiring police to return accident-damaged vehicles to their owners within 72 hours, expedite the issuance and renewal of driving licences, and implement the 12-point demand of the Road Transport Workers' Federation.

Kafil Uddin Ahmed, President of the Bangladesh Road Transport Owners' Association; Executive President M A Baten; Vice-President Md Tofazzal Hossain Mojumder; Ramesh Chandra Ghosh, Chairman of the Bus-Truck Owners Association; Joint Secretary M Humayun Kabir; former General Secretary Kafil Uddin Ahmed; former President Faruk Talukder Sohel; President of the Road Transport Workers' Federation Abdur Rahim Box Dudu; and its General Secretary Humayun Kabir Khan were, among others, present at the press conference.