Transport workers in misery 

Abdul Gaffar, 35, has three children. He took to the streets after starving for last few days. He carried a placard in his hand that says: "We want to live, please come to help us for God's sake."

Now, this call is not his alone but of all transport workers amid the countrywide shutdown of mass transport during the deadly coronavirus pandemic. 

More than 100 transport workers of Mirpur area went on demonstration at Gabtoli bust stand road on Tuesday noon and blocked the road.

After three hours of protest, they withdrew and threatened they would come back if they did not get any help from the government or the transport authorities. 

Mizanur Rahman, assistant commissioner of Darus Salam zone of Dhaka Metropolitan Police, said police managed to send back the protesters. 

"We assured them police would manage food for them and already made a list," he added.

Gaffar, a driver of Welcome Paribahan, told The Business Standard that he used to get Tk30,000 per month. 

"After the shutdown announcement, we have been sitting idle without getting any penny from the government or the transport authorities," he added. 

"The government announced Tk5,000 stimulus but we did not get any financial aid since the announcement had been made," Gaffar said. 

Shahidul Islam, a driver of Swajan Paribahan, claimed the bus owner got stimulus from the government but "he does not look after us". 

"The bus owner earns a lot through our hard work but now he does not even receive our call," he added. 

Azizur Rahman, a driver of Mowri Paribahan, said he had lost his residence in the devastating fire in Mirpur Chalantika slum. 

"My wife also lost her garment factory job. We cannot feed our child for the last two days. Who will look after us?" he asked. 

When asked, Khandoker Enayetullah, secretary general of Bangladesh Road Transport Owners Association, said they were trying to help the workers. 

"But we have some limitations and in future we will try to help them," he added.