Clicky
National, Back Page

Transport workers’ woes know no bound


Published : 04 May 2020 09:03 PM | Updated : 06 Sep 2020 06:33 PM

A large number of transport workers have been passing a very tough time as their only earning source is halted amid the general holiday due to Coronavirus pandemic. Their woes and jeopardy to run their families are now colossal. And this situation may be deteriorated for the transport workers as the general holiday is extended till May 16.

At least 7,000,000 transport workers, most of whom are daily wage earners, are suffering the worst economic consequences since March 25 (the beginning of this general holiday centering pandemic).

After talking to several transport workers it is known that they got cold feet about the whole situation as they hardly manage to buy foods for them and family members.

Yeasin, a bus helper at Mohakhali bus stand said, “Several people came at the terminal and noted our names with cell phone numbers. They assured us to do something for our livelihood. But we never saw them for the second time. We are bearing the brunt of the hardship.”

Moreover, transport owners and other welfare associations are not paying any heed to these daily wage earners. It accelerated their agony further.

Transport workers even do not know how much assistance they will get of the Tk 760 crore announced by the government for day laborers.

On the other hand, due to lack of proper employment documents, 98 percent of transport workers are facing trouble who in dire need of grants or other assistants.

Earlier, transport workers staged demonstrations demanding relief foods and other assistance. However, no transport leader was seen to support them.

According to different association’s statistics, nearly 8,000 buses and minibuses were operated on different routes in the city. Some 40,000 workers are directly or indirectly involved with these buses. Now they are not getting any support from their respective unions, associations and owners.

According to workers of Raida Transport Service (passenger bus service operated from Sayedabad to Diabari route), there are about 200 buses of the company and The transport workers had to pay Tk 1,700 to bus owners in the name of transport workers' welfare. But, the transport workers are not getting any facility from that so called welfare fund. He also asked, “Where has the money gone?”

Seeking anonymity, a bus driver of the same transport service company said, “Transport workers are now searching alternative ways of earning as they have become jobless for more than a month. Many of us are selling vegetables or hawking other daily essentials to survive.”

Transport leaders and entrepreneurs said due to the general holidays, the industry is incurring a loss of around Tk 500 crore every day. They say the sector is in need of incentive assistance. Otherwise, they will have to lose everything.
They also urged the government to provide a packaged fund for them.

Bangladesh Road Transport Owners' Association (BRTOA) general secretary Khandaker Enayet Ullah said, “Labor federation will provide assistance to the transport workers. Owners also have to come forward to help them survive amid this pandemic.”