UNB, Sylhet: Transport owners and workers in Sylhet on Monday called an indefinite transport strike across the district, with effect from Tuesday morning to press home their six-point demand.
The announcement came at a press conference held at a city hotel on Monday evening, organized by the Sylhet District Road Transport Owners-Workers Unity Council.
Reading out a written statement, Moynul Islam, president of Sylhet District Bus-Minibus, Coach-Microbus Workers’ Union, alleged that transport owners, workers, and those involved in stone-related businesses in Sylhet have long been neglected and deprived under successive governments.
He blamed a “government-backed syndicate” for the extreme suffering faced by millions of people in Sylhet following the closure of all stone quarries in 2018.
“Due to the shutdown of stone quarries, millions have become jobless in Sylhet, creating a famine-like situation. Yet, the government is spending billions of dollars to import stones from abroad,” he said.
Moynul also termed the amendments to the Road Transport Act-2018, particularly Section 36, and the handing over of vehicle fitness certification to private firms, as part of a conspiracy to destroy the transport sector.
He further alleged that transport workers, especially truck drivers, face constant harassment in the name of vehicle checks by law enforcement.
In protest, all forms of public transport, including buses, minibuses, coaches, microbuses, trucks, pickups, covered vans, CNG-run vehicles, three-wheelers, and vehicles related to the stone industry will remain off the roads in Sylhet district from 6 am on Tuesday, the council announced.
The six-point demand includes withdrawal of the economic life restriction on vehicles under the Road Transport Act-2018, reopening of all stone quarries in Sylhet and suspension of lease bans, cancellation of private contractors' authority over vehicle fitness certification, withdrawal of increased taxes on public transport, restoration of power supply to all crusher mills and compensation for damaged equipment, removal of Sylhet Deputy Commissioner Muhammad Sher Mahbub Murad and an end to police harassment of goods vehicle drivers.
The council threatened that the strike will continue until their demands are met. Transport leaders from all related sectors were present at the press conference.
