Leaders of Bangladesh Road Transport Owners Association, Bangladesh Bus-Truck Owners Association and Bangladesh Road Transport Workers Federation have demanded the resumption of inter-district passenger and freight transports in compliance with the five-point demand. If their demands were not met, protest rallies will be held at all bus-truck stands across the country from 10 am on Eid day.
They made the demand at a joint press conference at the National Press Club on Saturday at 11:30 am
Shahjahan Khan, president of the Bangladesh Road Transport Workers Federation, said in a written statement at the press conference, "The government has decided to operate public transport within the metropolis and districts by relaxing the lockdown from May 8.
However, long-distance public transport is closed. This has caused dissatisfaction among the owners and workers. People are travelling in buses, minibuses and CNG-powered autorickshaws. There is a risk of further increase in covid infections. Therefore, long-distance mass and goods transportation should be resumed in accordance with the health rules.”
In the statement, Shahjahan Khan demanded fulfillment of their five-point demand. The demands include resumption of all modes of public transport, including long-distance ones with half the number of passengers and the goods carrying transport.
Unemployed road transport workers need to be provided with financial assistance and food aid before the upcoming Eid. As public transport is closed in the lockdown, Tk 5,000 crore should be allocated and provided for vehicle repairs, paying salaries of employees and workers, and giving allowances and Eid bonuses, etc.
The other demands are — financial support and food relief for the transport workers and Tk 5,000 crore incentive to the transport owners with low interest rate and easy condition for paying workers arrears, rice for workers from OMS and at Tk 10 before and after the Eid, and waiving of all loans invested in transport businesses.
The demands further state that transport workers at bus and truck terminals across the country will have to be provided with OMS rice at Tk 10 before and after the Eid. Due to COVID-19, instalments including interest waiver of all bank loans, financial institution loans and loans of privately-owned companies will have to be postponed until December 31 and classified loans will have to be declassified with 2% down payment.
In addition, all types of fees, taxes and fines including vehicle tax-token, route permit fee, income tax, driving license fee will be waived and the documents will have to be updated until December 31, 2021.
If these 5-point demand are not met, the owners and workers of the country will hold a sit-in programs at the bus and truck terminals in their respective areas from 10 am to 12 noon after the Eid prayers, Shahjahan Khan said. The next program will be announced after Eid.
President of Bangladesh Road Transport Owners Association Mashiur Rahman Ranga, Secretary General of Bangladesh Road Transport Owners Association Khandaker Enayet Ullah and many others were present at the press conference.
