Nationwide 72-hour transport strike from 12 August over eight-point demand

The Bangladesh Road Transport Owners Association has announced a 72-hour nationwide transport strike beginning at 6am on 12 August, unless the government fulfils its eight-point demand, which includes extending the economic lifespan of commercial vehicles to 30 years.

The announcement was made yesterday evening (7 August) by the association's central president, Kofil Uddin Ahmed, during a divisional rally held at Hotel Saikat on Station Road in Chattogram. The event was jointly organised by the Greater Chattogram Goods and Passenger Transport Owners' Federation and the Chattogram divisional committee of the Bangladesh Road Transport Workers' Federation to press home the demands of the Bangladesh Road Transport Owners-Workers Coordination Council.

Kofil Uddin Ahmed said the eight-point demand list had already been submitted to the communications adviser, who assured them of addressing two of the demands. 

"We told him all demands must be accepted. If they are not met by 6pm on 11 August, we will go ahead with the strike from 12 August to 15 August," he said.

He strongly criticised Sections 98 and 105 of the Road Transport Act 2018, which state that drivers involved in road accidents cannot obtain bail and may face up to five years in jail and a fine of Tk5 lakh.

"Accident cases can be tried in court, and the court can deliver a punishment. But bail is a constitutional right that should be decided by the judiciary, not blocked outright in the law. These sections must be amended," he said.

Commenting on the economic lifespan of vehicles, Kofil Uddin said, "Vehicles over 20 years old are being sent to dumping grounds, which will remove about 80% of vehicles from the roads." 

"We say, if a vehicle has fitness clearance, it should be allowed to run. If it doesn't, suspend it temporarily. If an 83-year-old person can run the country as chief adviser, why give a death sentence to a 20-year-old vehicle?" he asked. 

Among the key demands are amending the Road Transport Act sections related to bail for drivers, extending the lifespan of commercial vehicles to 30 years and halting crackdowns until then, reversing the increase in advance income tax on commercial vehicles, allowing imports of reconditioned vehicles up to 12 years old, ensuring accident-damaged vehicles are returned to owners within 72 hours, formulating a scrapping policy for expired vehicles, introducing separate lanes for three-wheelers and unauthorised light vehicles on highways, and expediting the issuance and renewal of driving licences. The leaders also called for implementing the workers' federation's existing 12-point demand.

Speakers at the rally warned of expanding their movement if the government fails to meet the demands. 

"There will be no turning back from the strike once it begins," they said.