For Transport Act Changes: Workers strike from tomorrow

With the government declaring it will not make any changes to the Road Transport Act  for now, people are likely to face another bout of suffering as transport workers are determined on observing work abstention from Sunday over their demands to amend some sections of the act.

“No one from the government contacted us. So we will go on with our scheduled programme,” Osman Ali, general secretary of Bangladesh Road Transport Workers' Federation, told The Daily Star last night.

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The federation, the umbrella organisation of country's transport workers, on October 12 decided on a two-day work abstention from October 28 to press home their eight-point demands, mainly of amendments to the act, if their demands are not met by October 27.

Top leaders of the federation have already visited different districts to drum up support for their programme. They will also hold a massive rally in the capital on Saturday.

Meanwhile, Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader at a press conference on Tuesday said there is no question of amending the law within the tenure of the government as there were only few days left of the last session of the parliament.

Obaidul, also the general secretary of ruling Awami League, said the law has been enacted after holding discussions with transport leaders over three years.

“I have asked them to refrain from protests. The new government will take decisions if any changes are required,” he added.

The federation in a statement yesterday urged the government to meet their demands by October 27.

Their demands include making all offences under the Act “bailable”, cancellation of the provision that allows a worker to be fined Tk 5 lakh for involvement in a road accident, changing minimum educational qualification from class-VIII to class-V for getting driving licences, and stopping police harassment on roads.

Abdur Rahim Box Dudu, senior vice-president of the federation, said, “He [Obaidul] has said his words but we will not drive vehicles as per his wish.”

Asked whether Shipping Minister Shajahan Khan, also the executive president of the federation, has given consent to their decision Osman said “There is no scope to oppose the decision taken by the central committee.”

TRUCK OWNERS EXTEND SUPPORT

Meanwhile, Bangladesh Truck-Covered Van Owners' Association yesterday decided to extend their support to the federation's work abstention programme.

“We have decided to extend support to the workers' demand,” Rustam Ali, general secretary of the association, told this correspondent.

Bangladesh Road Transport Owners Association has not taken decision in this regard yet, as its top leader Khondaker Enayet Ullah is now abroad, a leader of the association said.

The parliament on September 19 passed the much-anticipated Road Transport Act, 2018, amid criticism for lenient punishment for deaths caused by reckless driving.

Earlier this month, Bangladesh Goods Transport Owners Workers United Association announced a three-day work abstention in Dhaka division to press home their seven-point demand, including bringing amendments to the Act.

The organisation, however, postponed their programme until October 31 after Home Minister Asaduzzaman Kamal assured its leaders of considering their demands.