Leaders of the Bangladesh Auto-Rickshaw Light Vehicle Transport Workers Federation (BALTWF) alleged that Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA) has been harassing transport workers appearing for driving licence and dope tests instead of providing service.

They brought the allegation while addressing a meeting of the Dhaka West Zone Regional Committee of the organization at Mohammadpur Dhaka Udyan in the city on Monday to form a new committee of the unit.

The meeting was presided over by Naimul Hasan, President of the Dhaka West Zone Regional Committee.

“The BRTA, instead of serving the workers and vehicle owners, has been harassing them in various ways,” said Abul Hossain, president of the BALTWF.

Md Golam Faruk, founder general secretary of the BALTWF, and other leaders of the organisation including Md. Sanu Khan, Md. Masud, Md. Yusuf, Md. Qayyum Khan, Mia Chan Fakir, Prashant Kumar Roy, Abdur Razzaq, and Bachchu Mia also addressed the occasion.

The leaders said drivers are being harassed in the name of license and dope test. Even though the workers protested about it, there was no change. Therefore, there is no option but to realize the demands through workers' movement immediately.

They urged the workers to get united and struggle on the streets to get their demands realized.

At the end of the meeting, Naimul Hasan was announced as the president and Md. Sanu Khan as the general secretary of the 25-member Dhaka West Regional Committee, said a press release.