Prime mover-trailer workers declare 24-hour strike on Jan 30
The union made the announcement at a press conference at the Chattogram Press Club on Monday
Prime Mover-Trailer Sramik Union, a platform for the members who transport goods from the Chattogram Port to various depots, has declared a 24-hour strike to be observed on January 30, demanding licences to operate heavy vehicles.
The union made the announcement at a press conference at the Chattogram Press Club on Monday.
"We will go on a tougher movement if our demand is not met," said Md Abu Bakr Siddiqui, the union's general secretary.
Keep updated, follow The Business Standard's Google news channel
There are currently 7,850 prime mover-trailers in the country with around 15,780 people engaged in the sector. Businesses have to rely on the prime mover-trailers.
One-third of the workers have not got licences from the Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA) yet.
Many of the workers have not been able to acquire licences due to bureaucratic red tape and corruption even after being in the profession for 5-12 years, said a written statement of the union.
In 2017, a list containing 450 workers' names were submitted to the BRTA for providing them with licences. Of them, 68 got licences in 2019 through an examination.
Later, 282 workers reapplied but have not heard from the BRTA from yet.
Md Moin Uddin, president of the union, and Md Musa, president of Chattogram unit of Bangladesh Road Transport Workers' Federation, were also present on the occasion.
