United News of Bangladesh

An indefinite strike, enforced by transport owners and workers over a six-point demand including the removal of the Sylhet Deputy Commissioner and the reopening of all stone quarries, began on Tuesday morning, causing widespread suffering to commuters and passengers across the city. The strike was called on Monday evening at a press conference held by Sylhet District Road Transport Owners-Workers Unity Council at a city hotel. Due to the strike, no long-distance buses departed from Sylhet, and inter-district buses remained missing from the central terminal. Passengers were seen waiting at several points across the city such as Zindabazar, Ambarkhana, Tilagarh and Madina Market for vehicles though a low number of city transports, including CNG-run auto-rickshaws, was running. Transport leaders said vehicles carrying patients and HSC exam candidates are out of the purview of the strike. At the press conference, transport leader Moinul Islam alleged that the transport and stone-related sectors in Sylhet had long suffered under a fascist regime, and a syndicate backed by the then ruling party was responsible for widespread hardship. Indefinite transport strike called in Sylhet from Tuesday over 6-point demand He also criticised the 2018 Road Transport Act’s provision capping economic life of vehicles—20 years for buses or minibuses and 15 years for trucks, pickups, and CNG-run vehicles—as a blueprint to destroy transport workers. The transport leader demanded the cancellation of private contracts for issuing fitness certificates and accused police of harassing drivers in the name of vehicle checks. Initially, a five-point demand was submitted to the Sylhet Metropolitan Police Commissioner on July 6. On Monday, the demand for the removal of the DC was added, bringing the total to six. Commuters bear the brunt as 48hr transport strike in Ctg underway in response to buses burnt by CUET students The demands include cancellation of the 2018 transport law’s lifespan clause, withdrawal of the suspension on stone quarry leases and resumption of operations, cancellation of private agency contracts for issuing vehicle fitness certificates and rollback of increased taxes, restoration of electricity to crusher mills and compensation for damages, removal of DC Mahbub Murad, and an end to police harassment of drivers.

Bangladesh Road Transport Workers' Federation (BRTWF) called an indefinite strike in Sylhet from Monday to press for their five-point demand. All modes of public transport, including buses, CNG-run auto-rickshaws and freight trucks will stay off the roads in Sylhet from 6 am onwards, said BRTWF organizing secretary (Sylhet division) Zakaria Ahmed. READ: 72-hr transport strike underway in Sylhet "On November 9, we handed over a five-point demand to the deputy commissioner of Sylhet. As no initiative has been taken to meet those demands, all modes of public transport in Sylhet will be staying off the roads indefinitely from Monday as per our previously announced programme.” READ: Commuters hit hard by transport strike in Khulna Their demands are: Sylhet Regional Auto-tempo and Auto Rickshaw Driver Workers' Alliance must complete its triennial election and refund of cash collected as nomination fee as well as suspending the Deputy Director of Sylhet Regional Labor Department, withdrawal of the case filed against leaders of Sylhet District Bus, Minibus Coach-Microbus Workers Union; an end to the harassment of drivers by traffic and highway police in Sylhet; stopping toll collection on damaged bridges and ensuring parking facility for small vehicles.

After the government met their demand, Bangladesh Road Transport Owners Association on Sunday called off the indefinite transport strike it enforced on Friday in protest against the fuel price hike and demanding increased bus fares. Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA) has increased the fares for intra-city and inter-district buses by 26.5% and 27% respectively following the demand of the bus owners. The decision came at a meeting between the BRTA and the bus owners today (Sunday). Khandaker Enayet Ullah, secretary general of the Bangladesh Road Transport Owners Association, said the strike was called off today. "We've also instructed the owners to operate the bus from today." Read: Transport strike enters 3rd day, badly affects normal life From now on, the fare for inter-district buses will be Tk 1.8 per km with a 27% hike which was Tk 1.42 per km. The fare for intra-city buses would be Tk 2.15 per km – an increase from Tk1.70 -- with a 26.5% hike. The minimum fare would be Tk 10 for buses and Tk 8 for minibuses. BRTA Chairman Nur Mohammad Majumdar said, "The notification will be issued after sending the proposal to the ministry today. These new fares will be effective from tomorrow (Monday)." On Thursday, bus, truck and covered van owners called an indefinite nationwide strike from Friday in protest against fuel price hike. Convenor of Bangladesh Truck-Covered Van, Tank Lorry and Prime Movers Owners and Workers Coordination Council Md Rustom Ali announced their decision on Thursday following an emergency meeting of the organization. Leaders of the organization said the government raised the toll of Bangabandhu Bridge and Muktarpur Bridge from 257 per cent to 300 per cent “illogically” on November 2 and then it raised the prices of fuel, said a press release. Transport movement had remained suspended for a long time due to Covid in the last two years. When the transport owners are trying to make a turnaround from their huge losses caused by Covid shutdown, the decision of raising bridge toll and fuel price was announced, they added.