Truckers call off strike

The leaders of Bangladesh Truck Covered-Van Owners and Workers Oikya Parishad have called off their strike on Wednesday midnight after Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan assured them of meeting their demands including amendments to the Road Transport Act 2018.

The leaders held a meeting with the minister at his Dhanmondi residence on Wednesday. The meeting started at around 9 pm and ended at midnight.

After the meeting, Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan said, "Drivers who have valid licences will be allowed to drive with those until June 30 next year. They have also been asked to update licences, fitness certificates of the vehicles and other necessary papers by that time."   

"Actions will be taken against drivers who are using fake licences to drive vehicles," he added.

"The workers leaders raised objection against nine out of 126 sections of the Road Transport Act 2018. We will send a recommendation letter to the Road Transport Ministry to consider their demands," the minister said further.

"We have withdrawn the strike as we got assurance to meet our demands," said Rustam Ali Khan, convenor of the oikya parishad.

Earlier on Sunday noon, transport workers in Jashore went on a transport strike demanding amendment of some provisions of the newly enforced Road Transport Act-2018 (RTA).

Later on Wednesday morning, Bangladesh Truck Covered-Van Owners and Workers Oikya Parishad joined the agitating workers with a 9-point charter of demands. Truckers said the RTA has a number of issues — especially sections those stipulate a fine of Tk5 lakh, or 5 years of imprisonment, or both for killing anyone by reckless driving.