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Transport owners and workers withdrew their proposed 72-hour countrywide strike after being assured that their demands of amending the road transport act will be considered rationally.
Their 8-point demands include amendments by withdrawing the provision of punishment to drivers in the act and increase economic life of vehicles from 20-25 years to 30 years.
Bangladesh Road Transport Workers Federation General Secretary Humayun Kabir made the announcement of the withdrawal of the strike after a meeting with Rail, Road Transport and Bridges Adviser Mohammad Fouzul Kabir Khan at Bidyut Bhaban on Sunday.
The withdrawn commercial transport strike was scheduled on August 12.
Talking with journalists, the adviser said the government has already taken some steps to meet the demands which are possible to meet. He added that some steps are also under process.
Without clearing what steps have taken and which demands are under the government's consideration, the adviser, however, said no decision was taken on the amendment of any particular section of the act.
He also said that draft on the amendment would be prepared in next 60 days claiming that the BRTA's drive against aged old vehicles was not stopped though demand to increase economic life was placed by the transport owners.
Bangladesh Transport Owner-Worker Coordination Council at a press conference on July 27 declared suspension of all commercial transports in the country from 6 AM on August 12 to 6 AM on August 14 to press for the demands.
The demands included amendment of section 98 and 105 of The Road Transport Act, 2018; suspension of the drive to seize buses and trucks until increase of economic life of vehicles to 30 years; reduction of presumptive tax, import, increase of commercial vehicles aged from five years to 12 years and handing over those vehicles after accident within 72 hours to the owners; and scrap policy for the seizure of transports.
Special Assistant Dr Sheikh Moinuddin, Road Transport and Highways Senior Secretary Ehsanul Haque, Jatiyatabadi Sramik Dal Coordinator Shamsur Rahman Shimul Biswas and Bangladesh Road Transport Owners Association Secretary General Saiful Alam were present at the meeting. Representatives of different transport companies also attended it.