Goods transport strike continues

Apparel business and supply chain largely affected as owners and workers of goods transports continued partial work abstention across the country for the second consecutive day on Monday for an indefinite period.
Bangladesh Goods Transport Owners and Workers’ Unity Council observed the strike to press home their seven-point demands including changes to the newly enacted Road Transport Act-2018. The changes included demands that no case be filed for road
accident under section 302 of Penal Code, cancellation of Tk 5 lakh fine and all road accident-related cases be bailable. 
Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association leaders requested the transport leaders to withdraw the strike as it badly affected the country’s export and import activities. 
After a meeting with the home affairs minister Asaduzzaman Khan in chair at his Dhanmondi residence in Monday night, the council leaders allowed goods-laden transports carrying garment and perishable products to enter and leave Dhaka division. 
To take decision on allowing other goods-laden transports, the leaders are scheduled to meet the home minister and law minister Anisul Huq at the secretariat today at 2:00pm, said the council convenor Makbul Ahmed. 
As transport workers in Chattogram, Feni, Bagura, Naogaon, Rangpur and Chapainawabganj districts expressed solidarity with the strike on Monday, no goods-laden transports entered or left the capital and other districts under Dhaka division, said the leaders. 
In the capital transport workers held processions taking position at Jurain, Shympur, Tejgaon, Kanchpur, Jatrabari and Gabtoli areas, all day long. 
In Jurain, Shympur Bazar, Jatrabari and Kanchpur areas they rubbed burnt oil on the faces of transport workers and physically assaulted those who ran goods-laden transports on these roads defying the strike. 
The council convenor Makbul Ahmed and member secretary Md Tajul Islam vowed to continue the strike till their demands would be met. 
Earlier on Monday, BGMEA president Siddiqur Rahman told New Age that they had talked with shipping minister Shajahan Khan, home affairs minister Asaduzzaman Khan and the transport leaders on Monday and urged them to withdraw the strike. 
Shipping minister is also the executive president of Bangladesh Road Transport Workers’ Federation. 
‘We are not able to send our export goods to Chattogram or to receive import goods from the Chattogram Port either. As a result many factories are feared to be closed down and there is risk of orders getting cancelled,’ Siddiqur said. 
He said there were about 3,000 factories in Dhaka division facing the risk of losses due to the strike. Between Sunday and Monday he had received phone calls from owners of at least a hundred apparel factories who feared considerable losses. 
If the strike continued, it would be an absolute disaster, he added. 
Chattogram Prime Mover Trailer Sramik Union general secretary Abu Bakar Siddiqui alleged that though they did not join the work abstention they had received some complaints from the drivers who left Chattogram for Dhaka. 
‘They were stopped by some workers on Dhaka-Chattogram Highway at Pagla area under Narayanganj who seized the vehicles documents, beat and assaulted the drivers of Prime Movers,’ he told New Age correspondent in Chattogram. 
The prices of some vegetable items including brinjals, tomatoes, radishes and gourds at the capital city’s various kitchen markets have slightly increased due to the strike.
Monday also saw Tk 5 to Tk 10 increase per kilogram in the prices of these vegetables at Hatirpool kitchen market and Tk 10 to Tk 15 increase in the kitchen markets at Azimpur area.
West Karwan Bazar Multipurpose Cooperative Association leader Md Selim confirmed that prices of kitchen goods are on the rise in the market as no goods-carrying transports could enter the capital for two consecutive days.
New Age correspondents in Gazipur, Tangail and Narayanganj reported that no goods-laden vehicles could enter or leave these districts. 
New Age Correspondent in Jashore reported that several trucks laden with imported goods from India left for Dhaka from Benapole land port but remained stranded at several places on their way to the capital, Benapole Customs Clearing and Forwarding Agents’ Association joint secretary Mohsin Milon confirmed. 
However movements of goods-laden trucks towards other districts were not completely halted. Trucks plied major highways and roads in the districts. 
New Age correspondents in Rajshahi and Naogaon reported that no goods-laden transports plied the roads in these districts as these were to enter the Dhaka division. 
New Age correspondent in Chattagram reported that the strike did not hit the port city hard as goods-carrying vehicles were seen running till the evening. 
This strike might affect the business of the city if it continued for long, said Chittagong Chamber of Commerce and Industry director Anjan Shekhar Das.
New Age correspondent in Sylhet reported that till Monday night the strike did not affect the Sylhet region and the coal transportation at the Tamabil Land Port continued unabated.
The Council additionally demanded the release of all arrested transport owners and workers, relaxation of regulations in issuance of heavy vehicle licences and an end to police harassment.  
 

News Courtesy: www.newagebd.net