Commuters suffer as transport strike continues

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Bangla Tribune Desk
Published : 11:40, Nov 19, 2019 | Updated : 15:23, Nov 19, 2019

No bus left from Khulna bus terminal on Tuesday (Nov 19) morning.Bus drivers in Khulna, Narail, Jhenaidah, Meherpur, Kushtia and Chuadanga have continued their strike for the second day.
No bus left the respective six districts on Tuesday (Nov 19) morning.
Earlier on Monday, bus drivers in 10 districts had gone on strike, protesting the new Road Transport Act 2018 which came into effect across Bangladesh on Nov 17.
The demands include rectification of fines imposed on vehicle owners and drivers, and withdrawing restrictions imposed on small vehicles.
The 10 districts were Jashore, Khulna, Bagerhat, Satkhira, Magura, Narail, Jhenaidah, Meherpur, Kushtia, and Chuadanga.
The unannounced strike had crippled the country’s southwestern districts since Monday morning, causing immense suffering to passengers and cargo transport.
Meanwhile, thousands of passengers were in distress as bus services were suddenly suspended in the district. They have been trying to reach their destinations on three-wheelers paying higher fares.
Transport workers, including bus drivers, said the new law imposes the death penalty on drivers if anyone dies in a road accident and a fine of Tk 500,000 if anyone injured.
They said a driver cannot afford to pay such a large sum of money as the maximum salary of a driver is around Tk 15,000-20,000.
As such, the transport workers refused to resume their services until the law is amended.
Bangla Tribune correspondents from Khulna, Narail, Jhenaidah, Meherpur, Kushtia and Chuadanga contributed to the story.

/pdn/
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