Truck, covered van strike called off

Bangladesh Truck, Prime Movers and Covered Van Owners-Workers Association and Bangladesh Truck Driver Workers’ Federation have called off their 72-hour strike.

The decision was taken following a meeting between goods transport owners and Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan on Wednesday afternoon.

Bangladesh Truck Driver Workers’ Federation President Talukder Md Monir confirmed the matter to The Business Post.

“The government has promised to accept our 14 demands, except the increased income tax. On this basis, we are withdrawing the strike,” he said.

Earlier, the association called a three-day strike starting from 6:00am on Tuesday to press home their 15-point demand.

The strike paralysed the transportation of goods across the country while picking up goods from various ports, including the premier one, has grinded to a halt due to closure of all carrying vehicles – prime movers, long trailers, covered vans, and trucks.

After a day of the strike, the owner and worker leader met the home minister at Secretariat around 11am.

The meeting was attended by high officials from the public safety department, police, road transport and representatives from all ministries concerned.

A total of 18 leaders from two workers’ organizations took part in the meeting that ended at 2 pm.

Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan said that the government has taken note of their demands.

“They have duly raised 15 demands. Of them, we will take action on issues that they think needs to be addressed immediately. Other demands will be addressed in due time through secretaries of concerned ministries,” he added.

Chowdhury Zafar Alam, secretary general of Bangladesh Truck, Covered Van, and Prime Movers Owners Workers Association, said that according to the decision, their transports and workers resumed work at the Chattogram Port.

Meanwhile, another fraction of major platforms in the road transport sector Bangladesh Truck-Covered Van, Tank Lorry, Prime Mover Owners and Workers’ Coordination Council, called a 48-hour work abstention from September 27 to press home their 10-point demand.

The organization’s president Rustom Ali told The Business Post that they are still continuing their strike.

However, they are scheduled to meet with the relevant authorities of the government on September 26 in this regard.