Transport owners and workers on Friday enforced an indefinite strike across the country over the hike of fuel prices, causing immense sufferings to travellers and commuters.
They stopped plying public transports and vehicles carrying goods demanding an increase in fares or reverse of the hike.
The government increased diesel and kerosene prices by Tk 15 per litre, effective from Thursday midnight, due to the continuous rise in fuel prices in the global market.
Thousands of long-route travellers were left stranded at places due to the strike.
Besides, many people, including commuters, job aspirants, and university admission seekers, were forced to hire rickshaws, CNG-run autorickshaws, motorcycles or other modes of vehicles by paying much more than the usual fare to reach their destinations.
Meanwhile, the strike caused extreme trouble for traders along with exporters and importers.
Business-related people said they feared of incurring huge losses due to the strike while the fuel price hike already had them worried as it would also raise the production cost.
On Thursday, Bangladesh Truck-Covered Van Owners’ Association President Md Tofazzal Hossain Majumder and Bangladesh Road Transport Owners’ Association Executive President Rustam Ali Khan told the media that they would continue the strike if the government did not reduce diesel prices or raise fares.
The Energy and Mineral Resources Division said on Wednesday customers would have to buy diesel or kerosene at Tk 80 per litre from Thursday.
Bangladesh Truck-Covered Van, Tank Lorry, Prime Mover Owners’ and Workers’ Coordination Council in a press release said the government’s move to hike fuel prices, along with tolls for Bangabandhu and Muktarpur bridges, would add to the misery of the transport sector already ravaged by Covid-19.
Khandaker Enayet Ullah, secretary general of Bangladesh Road Transport Owners’ Association, said they had not announced any strike centrally.
He said some district leaders had called the strike because they were unable to operate at current fares after the fuel price hike.
