The indefinite strike called by Freight Transport Owners-Workers Union Council began in the country’s 21 southwest districts on Monday seriously affecting the business activities.
They enforced the strike to press home their 12 point demands that include an end to highway robbery, extortion and police harassment. The strike will continue until their demands are met, they warned.
Members of the 21-district owners-workers council, including Khulna, Greater Faridpur and Barisal, are participating in the strike.
As a result, business activities throughout the country are being badly affected as transportation of goods was halted after truck and covered-van owners began the indefinite strike in the morning.
Meanwhile, the business community has expressed concern, saying that the strike will contribute to the price spiral of essentials.
The 12 point demands also include stopping extortion at ferry ghats, lifting a ban on carrying side angles, bumpers and hooks on trucks and covered vans, said Abdul Gaffar Biswas, convener of the council said.
‘We will continue our strike until our demands are met,” he said.
“We also want an end to extortion and law-breaking at ferry ports, stopping of harassment under the guise of checking documents and ending the culture of bribery,” Gaffar Biswas said.
He also demanded a reduction in bridge toll rates, the removal of unnecessary speed breakers, the issuing of driving licences by training programmes, a reduction in the price of fuel oil and an end to the violence against drivers at India’s Petrapole land port.
Abdur Rahim, member-secretary of the council, said that their demands also include ending providing driving license after giving necessary training and cutting down oil prices.
Earlier, we had given an ultimatum to the government to fulfil their demands by Sunday (January 22). But the government didn’t pay any heed to our demands. So we are now on an indefinite strike, he said.
