Leaders of Bangladesh Auto-Rickshaw Light Transport Workers Federation (BALTWF) have placed a 10-point demand to remove discrimination in the transport sector and ensure road safety. They placed the demands at a discussion meeting at Dhaka Reporters Unity on Tuesday. The demands include handing over of already allocated 5000 CNG-run autorickshaws to drivers in Dhaka city and 4000 in Chattagram city as per the decision of the government in 2007, implementation of the Driver Appointment Act 1980, amendment to 22 sections of the Road Transport Act 2018 and implementation of the government decision to build separate lanes and dividers for light vehicles on highways to prevent road accidents, and eradicating all kinds of corruption, harassment and irregularities at BRTA regarding issuing licenses to drivers. Read: BALTWF urges govt to find out actual reasons for frequent road accidents Ensuring parking facilities for auto-rickshaws and light vehicles at important places in the city and elsewhere for the convenience of drivers and passengers, taking action against illegal toll collection by police and other agencies, introduction of rationing system for drivers and transport workers to provide essential commodities at low cost, and ensuring membership to the Board of Trustees and Road Safety Council and inclusion of representatives of the BALTWF in the district transport committee are among the demands. Read more: BRTA harassing transport workers during driving licence, dope tests: BALTWF With BALTWF president Abul Hossain in the chair, the discussion meeting was addressed by President of Bangladesh Transport Workers Federation Abdur Rahim Bokht Dudu, Joint Secretary General Zubair Zakir, and BALTWF general secretary Golam Faruk.

Leaders of the Bangladesh Auto-Rickshaw Light Vehicle Transport Workers Federation (BALTWF) have alleged that Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA) is helping auto-rickshaw owners exploit their drivers. “BRTA is allowing CNG-run auto-rickshaw owners to realise excessive deposits from drivers against their vehicles in daily operation”, said Golam Faruk, general secretary of BALTWF while addressing a human-chain protest in front of Jatiya Press club on Monday. He also alleged that by collecting excessive daily deposits the owners are forcing the drivers to ask their passengers to pay more against the rides. “Actually, the CNG-auto-rickshaw drivers are being used by owners as a tool to make their extra profits. The drivers are the victims of the vehicle owners’ greed”, he added. READ: Stop taking extra fares on public transport, HC asks BRTA The other leaders of the BALTWF alleged that the BRTA is not taking any action against such malpractices of the CNG auto-rickshaw owners. Rather, BRTA is holding meeting with the representatives of some so-collard workers organisations which don’t have any legal registration with the Labour Directorate. So, CNG auto-rickshaw drivers will never accept any decision of the meeting of BRTA where their true representation is not ensured, they said. They also demanded that the government takes action against the owners for unauthorised fixation of daily deposits. The protest programme, with Sikder Benezir Ahmed in the chair, was also addressed byBALTWF leaders Rafiqul Islam, Joynul Abedin Shanto, Md Noab Ali and Selim Mahmud.

Bangladesh Auto-Rickshaw Light Vehicle Transport Workers Federation (BALTWF) has demanded the government provide the allocated 5,000 auto-rickshaws to designated drivers to save them from the repression of the auto-rickshaw owners.They made the demand at the joint iftar party of the organisation‘s Dhaka city unit and central committee at the central office on Saturday. Read: Eid-ul-Fitr: Sale of advance train ticket beginsWith BALTWF president Abul Hossain in the chair, the function was addressed by organisation’s general secretary Golam Faruk, central leader Bahauddin Nobel, Anwar Hossain, Humayun Mazid, Joynal Abedin and repair Rahman.The auto rickshaw workers leaders said some 5000 three-wheeler auto rickshaws were allocated in 2007 in a tripartite meeting presided over by the then caretaker government’s advisor major general Abdul Matin in order to improve the passengers’ service.As per a BRTA circular, government license-holder auto rickshaw drivers submitted their applications in prescribed forms with Tk 50 bank drafts to get the allocated auto-rickshaws. But so far such allocated auto-rickshaws were distributed among the drivers, alleged the BALTWF. Read: Govt urged to raise prices of low-tier cigarettes to reduce health riskThey said they will build up a movement after the Eid-ul-Fitr to realize their demand.They also alleged that police repression against the auto-rickshaw drivers is increasing day by day.They demanded Eid bonus for the three-wheeler auto rickshaw drivers.

Auto-rickshaw and light vehicle drivers have alleged that they are not receiving any financial aid from city corporations or any other administrative office despite the government’s promise to provide them lockdown cash and food support. In a statement on Saturday, Abul Hossain and Golam Faruk, President and General Secretary of the Bangladesh Auto-Rickshaw Light Vehicle Transport Workers Federation (BALTWF) respectively, said their organisation has submitted the list of affected transport workers to the Relief Ministry, City Corporations and deputy commissioners.   “But we received no response from any administration as yet”, they said adding, it is frequently heard that the government has allocated crores of taka and tons of foods for the affected transport workers in the lockdown.  Also read: Auto-rickshaw workers seek PM’s intervention to overcome their hardships “All these are reported by newspapers. Where these supports are gone?,” they raised question.  The statement mentioned that the BALTWF have also placed their demands through press conference, meeting and human chain programmes in front of National Press Club. But no one heeded their appeals.  It said the transport workers fear hunger more than coronavirus.  Also read: Auto-rickshaw, light vehicles workers demand food, cash support amid 'lockdown' The BALTWF leaders urged the government lift the ban on transport movement considering livelihoods emergency of the auto-rickshaw and light vehicles drivers and workers.

Auto-rickshaw and light vehicle drivers have demanded that the government provides them emergency food and cash support to their families facing serious hardships due to nationwide 'strict nationwide lockdown'. In a statement on Saturday, Abul Hossain and Golam Faruk, President and General Secretary of the Bangladesh Auto-Rickshaw Light Vehicle Transport Workers Federation (BALTWF) respectively, said the lockdown has left them without any work and earning. Also read: Auto-rickshaw, light vehicles workers demand food, cash support amid 'lockdown' The BALTF leaders said they have already made appeals to different concerned government offices seeking cash and food support for the unemployed and unfed workers.      “Even, we made our appeals through a press conference on June 28 in the city”, the BALTWF leaders said. Also read: Auto-rickshaw drivers, light vehicle workers demand food support Transport workers are mainly day labourers. Their income has now totally stopped. “The transport workers feel that hunger is more critical for their lives than the Coronavirus.” “We need livelihoods to save our lives. That’s why we seek Prime Minister’s intervention to ensure cash and food support for the transport workers”, said the BALTWF statement.

Auto-rickshaw drivers and light vehicle workers organised a human chain in front of the National Press Club on Thursday demanding food support and allowing their operation by ensuring health safety rules. Addressing a rally during the human chain organised by the Bangladesh Auto-Rickshaw Light Vehicle Transport Workers Federation (BALTWF), the leaders of the organisation said that their members could not work during the lockdown. President of the BALTWF Abul Hossain presided over the rally. "This restriction ultimately put us in big trouble as we have become unemployed and our families will have to go hungry during Ramadan," said Golam Faruk, secretary of the BALTWF. He noted that the organisation had already appealed to different government offices for direct food and cash aid so that their families could survive. But this time no charitable person or organisation is coming forward to help the starving people while government assistance has not yet reached us, the leader said.

Auto-rickshaw and light vehicle transport workers demanded direct financial support from the government’s stimulus package instead of raising passengers’ fare by 60 percent. 

Bangladesh Auto-Rickshaw Light Vehicle Transport Workers Federation (BALTWF) has demanded that the government take strict action against extortionists in the transport sector ahead of the resumption of public transport after a two-month break.