Nationwide Transport Strike Announced for August 12–15

The Bangladesh Road Transport Owners-Workers Coordination Council has announced a 72-hour nationwide strike, set to begin at 6:00am on Tuesday, 12 August, and continue until 6:00am on Friday, 15 August. During this time, all buses and trucks will remain off the roads across the country.

The strike has been called to press home eight key demands, including amendments to the Road Transport Act 2018. The announcement came from Saiful Alam, general secretary of the Bangladesh Road Transport Owners’ Association central committee, following a meeting at the Bangladesh Transport Workers’ Union office in Jashore on Friday afternoon.

Council leaders claimed the Road Transport Act 2018, enacted under the former "fascist" Awami League regime, has been used arbitrarily against transport workers and owners. They particularly criticised sections 98 and 105, describing them as excessively punitive and unfair.

Despite repeated appeals, the government has failed to address their concerns, prompting the call for a nationwide strike. Among the eight demands are: amending the Road Transport Act; extending the economic life of commercial vehicles to 30 years; permitting older vehicles to operate based on fitness tests; scrapping the proposed double advance income tax; increasing the import age limit of reconditioned commercial vehicles to 12 years; ensuring the release of vehicles seized after accidents within 72 hours; introducing a scrapping policy for expired vehicles; and establishing separate lanes for three-wheelers on highways along with quicker processing of driving licenses.

Council leaders argued that environmental concerns should be addressed through fitness and emissions testing, not by setting arbitrary age limits for vehicles. They maintained that older vehicles, if properly maintained, can be both safe and environmentally friendly. They also called for an immediate stop to the current crackdowns on older vehicles.

Transport leaders warned of tougher actions if the government fails to respond effectively. They also denounced the proposed double advance income tax as unrealistic and discriminatory, especially for small and medium vehicle owners who cannot adjust taxes due to vehicle registration under banks or leasing firms.

The meeting was chaired by Anisur Rahman Liton, president of the council’s Khulna division. Also in attendance were Bangladesh Transport Workers Federation Central President Abdur Rahim Box Dudu and Yusuf Ali, general secretary of the Barishal Division Owners-Workers Unity Council, among others.