Dhaka, Oct 27 (Just News): Transport workers today announced to go on a 48-hour strike from tomorrow to press home their eight-point demand.
The workers will go on the strike from 6:00am tomorrow, said Abdur Rahim Box Dudu, senior vice-president of Bangladesh Road Transport Workers Federation.
The transport workers’ leader came up with the announcement at a rally held in front of Jatiya Press Club in Dhaka this afternoon.
We are willing to discuss our demands with the government. If our demands are met we will call off the strike, Osman Ali, general secretary of the federation, said at the rally that started around 3:00pm.
Several thousand transport workers from across the country participated in the rally that continued till 5:30pm.
Earlier on October 12, the federation, decided to go on a two-day work abstention from October 28 to press home their eight-point demand including amendments to the Road Transport Act, if their demands are not met by October 27.
Their demands include making all offences under the Road Transport 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 required for getting driving licences from class-VIII to class-V, and stopping police harassment on roads.
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 only few days are 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.
