Truckers enforce nationwide strike

Bangladesh Truck-covered Van Owners and Workers Oikko Parishad has begun to observe strike across the country from this morning to press home their 9-point demand including amendment to the Road Transport Act 2018.   

A huge number of trucks and covered vans were seen kept at the Tejgoan truck stand in Dhaka.

 The Bangladesh Truck Covered-Van Owners Workers Oikya Parishad made the announcement of strike on Tuesday.

Truck owner Mohammed Shanto told the Business Standard that the law should be amended. They will not drive their vehicles until the amendment is made. 

Shanto said, "My truck driver also does not want to drive, as it is quite impossible to drive under this kind of law."

Driver Mohammed Alam, who has been driving truck for 15 years, said, "Drivers do not kill people willingly. No driver intentionally does accident.

"Sometimes people cross roads carelessly. They never listen to horns," said Alam.

Truck and covered van drivers across the country are observing work abstention spontaneously, Rustom Ali Khan, the convener of the platform of owners and workers of trucks and covered vans oikya parishad told the Business Standard in the morning.

"We have told workers not to do any picketing on the streets. We will not force any drivers to observe the programme. They will observe the programme spontaneously," said Rustom Ali Khan.

However, Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan is going to sit in a meeting with the leaders of the oikya parishad today to discuss over the strike they called following the enforcement of Road Transport Act 2018.