Transport Workers Threaten 72-Hour Strike Over 8-Point Demand

Transport owners and workers in Bangladesh have issued a stern warning of a 72-hour nationwide strike starting from 6:00 AM on 12 August to 6:00 AM on 15 August, if their eight-point list of demands is not met by 11 August.

The announcement was made during a press conference held at the National Press Club on Sunday, 27 July, jointly organised by the Bangladesh Road Transport Owners’ Association, the Bangladesh Bus-Truck Owners’ Association, and the Bangladesh Road Transport Workers’ Federation.

Reading a written statement, Saiful Alam, General Secretary of the Bangladesh Road Transport Owners’ Association, declared:

“If our demands are not met by 11 August, all commercial vehicles—including buses, trucks, covered vans, and prime movers—will cease operations across the country from the following morning.”

Importance of the Transport Sector

Saiful Alam highlighted that the road transport sector plays a vital role in the national economy, connecting communities and enabling goods movement. He stressed the stakeholders’ commitment to developing a disciplined, congestion-free, accident-free, and extortion-free transport system.

Background to the Strike Call

The announcement follows recent directives from the government to remove 20- and 25-year-old buses and trucks from the roads, triggering regional strikes and raising fears of national transport paralysis.

In response, a joint meeting of transport leaders was held in Dhaka on 20 July, where they agreed to formally submit their demands to the government within 15 working days.

8-Point Demand List

Additionally, the federations demanded the implementation of a 12-point workers’ charter, which includes urgent labour rights and safety matters.

Additional Demands and Safety Measures

• Scrap Policy: A national policy for retiring old, unfit vehicles must be formulated.
• Road Safety: Create dedicated lanes for light, unauthorised vehicles such as three-wheelers (auto-tempo, autorickshaw) on highways to reduce collisions.
• Driving Licence Services: Improve the speed and transparency of issuing and renewing licences.
• Police Custody for Damaged Vehicles: Enforce the rule to return accident-involved vehicles to owners within 72 hours.

Leaders in Attendance

The press conference was attended by notable figures from the transport sector:

With the deadline fast approaching, the transport sector’s demands underscore growing tensions between regulatory reforms and the operational realities of Bangladesh’s vast commercial vehicle network. The proposed strike, if enforced, could bring national transport to a standstill.