Cargo transport leaders and workers have called off their nationwide strike after assurance from Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan that their demands regarding the Road Transport Act-2018 would be considered.
The minister made the announcement around 1am while briefing reporters after a four-hour-long meeting with representatives of Bangladesh Truck-Covered-van Goods Transport Owner-Worker Unity Council, Bangladesh Road Transport Owners Association and Bangladesh Bus-Truck Owners Association on Thursday (Nov 21).
Kamal said that there would also be no more bus strikes, which had crippled the over the past three days.
He said that recommendations for the amendments to the new law will be sent to the road transoort minister so that he can initiate the procedure through the law ministry.
He added that transport owners and workers would get until June 30 next year to get their registration, fitness certificates and driving licences, along with other necessary documents in order.
“They said that fines during registration have become almost four times. They want the fines to be withdrawn. I told them that the road transport minister will accept it after consideration,” he said.
Khan, however, warned against illegal liscence saying that those found to be guilty will be brought to the book.
“Our demands have been met. We are calling off the strike,” said Rustam Ali, the convener of the association.
Commuters across the country suffered immensely on Wednesday as transport network remained closed after the owners and workers of bus, truck and other freight transports joined forces in rejecting the Road Transport Act with provisions of stricter punishments.
Cargo transport workers started their nationwide indefinite strike on Wednesday morning, two days after the bus-truck owners and workers in the southern districts kicked off their one.
On Wednesday, protesters vandalized vehicles, attacked workers willing to operate and blockaded roads in many districts, obstructing transportation of goods imported or meant for export and making the businesses take a hit.
They also barred vehicles transporting essential commodities, at a time when rumours and shortages have driven up the prices of different items.
Most of the intercity or inter-district buses from Dhaka’s terminals did not operate. Movement of city buses was also less than normal.
Road communications between Dhaka, Chittagong, Sylhet and Narayanganj, along with a number of districts, were interrupted after protesters blockaded the roads, forcing thousands of people to walk or find other modes of transportation, since the morning.
However, traffic on these roads and highways returned to normal in the afternoon, after police intervened peacefully.
