Ctg prime mover workers postpone 'vehicle shutdown' for two months after meeting with mayor

Workers and owners of prime mover, flatbed, low bed, and semi-low bed trailers, which operate at the Chittagong Port, postponed their planned 48-hour vehicle shutdown from Monday to Wednesday after a meeting with Chattogram City Corporation Mayor Shahadat Hossain. 

Following a meeting at the Chattogram Circuit House on Sunday (9 February), Anisur Rahman Raju, Joint General Secretary of the Chattogram Prime Mover and Flatbed Owners Association, officially announced the decision to delay the programme for two months.

Aziz Ahmed, Public Relations Officer of the Chattogram City Corporation, confirmed the development.

During the meeting, Mayor Shahadat emphasised the strategic importance of the Chattogram port, saying, "The port is the backbone of our economy. We must safeguard its operations at any cost. Vehicle shutdowns cause significant economic damage to the country. This is not the time for division; we need to make sacrifices for the greater good of the economy."

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Acknowledging the transport owners' and workers' grievances, he added, "I have listened to your concerns and will extend my support in addressing the reasonable demands."

Meanwhile, the trailer owners expressed frustration over complications arising from the Road Transport Act, citing legal issues and fines as a burden on transport operations.

However, they agreed to postpone the shutdown after assurances of cooperation from the mayor and senior administrative officials.

The meeting was attended by several high-ranking officials, including Chattogram Divisional Commissioner Md Ziauddin, Deputy Commissioner Farida Khanam, BRTA Chattogram Division Director Md Masud Alam, and Additional Police Commissioner (Traffic) Md Asfiquzzaman Akhter.

Prominent transport leaders, including Md Abu Saleh Jewel, president of the Chattogram Prime Mover Flatbed Owners Association, and Morshedul Alam Quaderi, convener of the Greater Chattogram Public Transport Owners Workers Unity Council, also participated at the meeting.

Earlier on 27 January, the Chattogram Prime Mover and Flatbed Owners Association issued an 11-point demand to the government, including calls to repeal or amend certain sections of the Road Transport Act 2018 that they deem to impose excessive fines.

The association had given authorities a 14-day ultimatum to address their demands.They had threatened to launch a 48-hour strike starting at 6am on 10 February.

Md Abu Saleh Jewel, president of the association, announced the programme at a press conference held at the Chattogram Press Club that day, saying, "At least 85% of the country's goods are transported via roads and highways, and 95% of port-related activities, including those at Chattogram Port, depend on our vehicles."

Jewel further said, "Despite consistently providing services during challenges such as the Covid-19 pandemic, natural disasters, and political unrest, we continue to face neglect, deprivation, and injustice from the government."