It is not possible to respond to Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader’s call for withdrawal of the 48-hour countrywide strike, a transport leader said today.  

Bangladesh Road Transport Workers Federation submitted the list of its demands to the government on September 27 but the minister did not respond, Osmani Ali, general secretary of the federation, told our staff correspondent at Mohakhali bus terminal.

“He (Quader) could have made the request (to not go for the strike) before the strike began,” said Osmani Ali

Osmani Ali said, “The minister did not call the transport leaders or discuss before saying that the new government or new parliament would consider the demands.”

What did Quader say about the act?

At a press briefing at his secretariat office on Tuesday, Quader said there is no question of amending the law within the tenure of the government. The law has been enacted after holding discussions with transport leaders for three years, he said.

The government will bring changes to it if required, he further said.

Why did transport workers go on strike?

The transport workers started a 48-hour strike across the country this morning to press home their eight-point demand mainly related to bringing amendments to the recently passed Road Transport Act-2018.

The other demands include making all offences under the Road Transport Act “bailable”, cancellation of the provision that allows a worker to be fined Tk 5 lakh for involvement in a road accident, changing the minimum educational qualification required to obtain driving licences from class-VIII to class-V, and ending harassment by police on roads.