Owners of trucks and covered vans have called off their strike following an assurance from the government to hike fare by 30 per cent along with the withdrawal of additional toll.
They came up with the announcement after holding a meeting with Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan at the latter’s secretariat office on Monday night.
Earlier on Sunday night, although bus and launch operators withdrew their strike on its third day after the government increased fare prices against the backdrop of fuel price hike, owners and workers of goods-carrying vehicles refused to call off their strike and demanded further discussion with the government.
They were adamant to continue the strike which hit the businesses particularly the import and export activities for the consecutive fourth day until Monday.
Around 8:15pm, the home minister sat for talks with the owners and workers of trucks and covered vans to resolve the crisis.
At the end of the meeting, Asaduzzaman Khan said the additional 30 per cent fare would be implemented after discussion with FBCCI, BGMEA, BKMEA and other business-related organisations.
Energy and Mineral Resources Division Senior Secretary Md Anisur Rahman, Public Security Division Senior Secretary Mostafa Kamal Uddin, Road Transport and Highways Division Secretary Md Nazrul Islam, Bangladesh Road Transport Authority Chairman Nur Mohammad Mazumder, and Bangladesh Truck, Covered Van, Tank Lorry and Prime Movers Owners and Workers Coordinating Council Convener Rustom Ali Khan, among others, attended the meeting.
On November 3, the government increased diesel and kerosene prices by Tk 15 to Tk 80 per litre at the retail level.
This sudden hike triggered agitation among transport owners and workers.
The next day, Bangladesh Truck, Covered Van, Tank Lorry and Prime Movers Owners and Workers Coordinating Council announced an indefinite strike from Friday protesting the hike.
