Transport owners and workers will stage demonstrations on all highways of the country on May 24 demanding the resumption of long-distance buses operation.
The Bangladesh Inland Navigation (Passenger Transport) Corporation has demanded waiver of various taxes and charges, including launch operations, from May 24 in compliance with health regulations across the country.
Both these demands were made by the leaders of respective organisations on Saturday.
Vessel owners made these demands at a press conference held at the company's own office on the ground floor of the BIWTA terminal building at Sadarghat while General Secretary of Bangladesh Road Transport Workers Federation Osman Ali along with other leaders made the demands to journalists on Saturday.
Osman Ali said, "We have decided to hold a protest on May 24 from 11 am to 12 noon demanding the resumption of long-distance transport, especially buses. We the transport owners 'and workers' organizations have jointly taken this decision".
Bangladesh Inland Navigation (Passenger Transport) Corporation's vice president Badiuzzaman Badal said, Covid-19 attacked our country for the second time since last March.
"The government brought everything under lockdown, including public transport, except buses and vessels. We have accepted that. But we saw that the government has opened garments, shops, shopping malls, hotels and restaurants. It has just neglected the launch sector," he said.
"We are giving advance income tax to the government, advance conservation to BIWTA, advance survey and registration fee to DG Shipping. The government does not waive a single penny. We demanded to make arrangements to allow the movement of launches so that people are not crammed into ferries. But the government did not take it into account," he added.
While asking what they wanted to do if the government does not allow them to operate launches, he replied, "We do not want to go against the government decision. If the government does not allow us, we will sit with them and place our demand including incentive packages for us."
Meanwhile, according to the Ministry of Public Administration, considering the suffering of the people, the movement of public transport is being relaxed. This time the decision may be made to introduce long-distance buses in a limited range. A proposal in this regard from the Cabinet Division last Thursday is to be sent to the Prime Minister on Saturday. The current ban is coming to an end on Sunday (May 23).
However, even if long-distance buses operation restriction is lifted, the border will remain closed for the time being.
