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Countrywide transport strike

Sufferings mount


Published : 05 Nov 2021 09:47 PM | Updated : 10 Nov 2021 02:49 PM

Mass people sufferings mounted as the transport owners enforced indefinite country-wide transport strike from Friday in protest against sudden increase in diesel prices. 

Due to the lack of public transport, there were crowds of waiting passengers in different parts of the capital. In such a situation, CNG-powered auto rickshaws and rickshaws are charging several times more fare.

While visiting different bus stations and bus stops it was found that no long route buses left and entered the capital. At these stoppages, a huge number of people were found waiting for any mode of tansport to reach their respective destinations.

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As a result, pressure on train and launch has increased suddenly. Passengers have complained of charging extra fare by launch staff on local routes in Barisal. Meanwhile, loading and unloading of goods, export items at different ports are being hampered due to the closure of goods transportation.

Many people, especially the job-seekers, were facing trouble as several government job recruitment tests including the integrated recruitment test of seven banks were scheduled to be held on Friday. Candidates from far and wide had to reach the test centres with great difficulty. 

Bangladesh Jatri Kalyan Samity (BJKS) secretary general Mozammel Haque Chowdhury told Bangladesh Post, “Sudden hike in diesel prices is causing immense sufferings to the mass people. Whatever decision will be taken, general people have to bear the brunt. Therefore, I would urge the government not to increase the diesel price and make general people's life easier.”  

Bus owners said, “The prices of various spare parts of bus have gone up. Besides, VAT and taxes have also raised. In this situation, price of diesel has added to the woes of the transport owners. We cannot ply buses with the previous fare.”  

There is no traffic jam in the city as there is no public transport in the street. The government has increased the price of kerosene-diesel without holding any discussion with the transport owners. 

Bangladesh Road Transport Owners Association secretary general Khandaker Enayet Ullah has said, “Transport owners will not operate their buses. Even if we did not make any formal announcement of strike on behalf of the organization, movement of long route buses will remain closed.” 

According to bus owners, the price of diesel has been increased. At the same time, the price of various spare parts including wheels has gone up. Although it was decided to increase the bus fare in 2019, it was not implemented by issuing a notification. As a result, owners are saying that bus fares should be increased by 50 percent.

 Following the bus owners association’s letter to the Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA), it has been decided that all parties concerned are going to sit in a meeting next Sunday at 11 am. From that meeting it will be decided whether the bus fare will increase or not, BRTA sources said. 

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