Commuters suffer as Ctg transport workers enforce strike

Travellers heading for Chittagong thronged Kamalapur Railway Station in the capital yesterday as a transport strike in the port city left Dhaka-Chittagong bus services stalled. PHOTO: STAR

Chittagong branch of Bangladesh Sarak Paribahan Sramik Federation (BSPSF) enforced the 24-hour strike to press its 14-point demand that includes issuance of laminated licences immediately by Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA), and bringing an end to extortion and oppression on transport workers by the police.

The office goers, garments workers, students, travellers from other districts -- all commuters in general -- were appalled and distressed as no bus or tempo were available for them to reach their destinations in and around the city.

Vehicles plying around 100 routes of Inter-city and inter-district bus services from the city to many districts including Dhaka, Feni, Noakhali, Chandpur, Brahmanbaria and Laxmipur refrained from operation.

A key mode of transport for the city passengers -- City Special Service -- docked around 600 of its buses in bay yesterday, said Abdul Hakim, the line secretary of City Bus Mini Bus Human Hauler Owners' Association.

BSPSF Secretary Oli Ahmad told The Daily Star that BRTA has not been issuing the laminated licences for about one and half years, "but the police do not allow our drivers to operate with the temporary papers provided by BRTA and continue to harass them by filing cases against them indiscriminately".

The BSPSF demands also include cancellation of Tk 67 toll from each truck and covered van at the entrance of the Chittagong Port by one Panama Trading.

The federation declared to observe more transport strikes on September 17 and 18 if their demands are not met.