The Greater Chattogram Public and Goods Transport Owners Federation has announced a 24-hour suspension of all services in Chattogram and five surrounding districts for July 20, pressing for amendment to the Road Transport Act 2018, among other demands.
The decision was made public at a press conference held at the Chattogram Press Club on Tuesday afternoon. Federation member secretary Md Humayun Kabir Sohel declared that the strike would be enforced from 6:00am on July 20 to 6:00am the following day.
The strike will cover all routes in Chattogram city, Cox鈥檚 Bazar, and the three hill districts of Rangamati, Khagrachhari and Bandarban. Transport owners and workers of all types of vehicles have been urged to observe the strike in full solidarity.
The strike has been called to press home a four-point demand charter that includes amending and revising the provisions of the Road Transport Act 2018 that allegedly go against the interests of transport owners and workers; suspending the government notification regarding the 鈥榚conomic life鈥� of vehicles; preventing the transport sector from being held hostage by handing over vehicle fitness certification to private entities; and restoring the previous rate of advance income tax on commercial motor vehicles.
鈥榃e held a press conference on June 30 highlighting various issues in the transport sector. Since then, three transport organisations have met with the road transport and home affairs adviser and presented their concerns. But no effective steps have been taken to resolve the problems,鈥� Humayun Kabir Sohel said at the press conference.
鈥楾he transport business has now turned into a loss-making sector, and several clauses and sub-clauses of the Road Transport Act have become a noose around the necks of owners and workers. We are left with no choice but to go for a full strike,鈥� he added.
Federation convener Morshedul Alam Kaderi, Road Transport Workers Federation leaders Mrinal Chowdhury, Md Musha and Oli Ahmed were also present at the press conference.