Quader calls for refraining as bus drivers go on strike in 10 districts over new road transport law

Road transport and bridges minister Obaidul Quader has called on the transport owners and workers to refrain from calling any strike over the Road Transport Act, 2018 that took effect on Sunday.

"As the law is passed by the parliament, it will be implemented despite all the difficulties," he told reporters at his Secretariat office on Monday morning.

His call came the day when bus drivers and their assistants went on strike in 10 districts protesting harsher penalty for traffic offences under the new law.

A day after the new law went into effect, mobile courts have also started their drives against traffic rules violators under the new law.

Earlier in the day, according to local media reports, the transport workers began their strike in Jashore, Khulna, Bagerhat, Satkhira, Magura, Narail, Jhenaidah, Meherpur, Kushtia and Chuadanga over the new law.

A top leader of Bangladesh Road Transport Owners Association (BRTOA) said the new law termed the drivers as killers in cases of road accidents, whereas in reality, they never kill anyone intentionally.

Drawing an analogy, BRTOA general secretary Mortaza Hossain said that there is quite an similarity between the new law and the law meant for criminals.

The new road transport law replaces the Motor Vehicle Ordinance, 1983 that had less harsh punishments for traffic offenses.