Following a meeting with leaders of Bangladesh Truck, Covered-van Goods Transport Owners-Workers Oikya Parishad at his Dhanmondi residence, Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan early Thursday announced that transport owners and workers withdrew their strike after the government assured them of considering their reasonable demands.
“We’re considering their nine-point demands. Responding to their first demand, drivers will be allowed to use their current driving licences until June 30 next,” he said.
However, vehicle owners and workers continued the strike in several places of the country.
In Sherpur, no long-haul bus or goods-laden vehicle took to the street in the district since the morning.
During a visit to Nabinagar Bus Terminal in the district town, our correspondent saw that buses were kept parked while ticket counters remained shut.
Hamidur Rahman, vice-president of district unit of Road Transport Workers’ Union, said: “The workers are reluctant to take to the street because of the new Road Transport Act.”
“We’ll decide about plying our vehicles after an extended meeting to be held on Friday,” he added.
In Khulna, bus owners and workers continued their strike for the fourth consecutive day. No bus left from Sonadanga Central Bus Terminal, Royal and Shibbari intersections.
Passengers thronged different railway stations to catch trains to reach their destinations.
The admission seekers at Jashore Science and Technology University were seen standing in queues at Khulna Railway Station in the morning to collect tickets.
Ziaur Rahman Mithu, general secretary of Khulna Motor Workers’ Union, said they were yet to decide about plying vehicles.
In Jashore, owners and workers kept their vehicles off the road in Benapole since the morning, halting loading and unloading activities at the Benapole port and causing sufferings to passengers.
Azim Uddin Gazi, general secretary of Benapole Transport Owners’ Association, said, “No truck could be brought to roads as drivers refrained from work.”
Mofizur Rahman Sajan, president of Benapole Port C&F Agents’ Association, said the import and export activities through the port were hampered due to the transport strike, causing a loss of Tk 20 crore every day.
Buses and trucks did not hit roads in Pabna, Faridpur and Chuadanga.