Ctg transport owners, workers demand safety on Dhaka-Ctg highway
Threaten strike otherwise
Goods carrying transport owners and workers of Chittagong yesterday demanded a stop to “rampant†robbery, killing, hijacking and extortion happening on the Dhaka-Chittagong highway.
They also gave an ultimatum to the authorities concerned to fulfill their demands by March 4, otherwise they threatened to go on strike for an indefinite period of time from that very day.
Under the banner “Chittagong Divisional Goods Carrying Transport Owner-Labourer Coordination Forum,†a platform of the transport owners and workers placed the 11-point demand at a press conference in Chittagong Press Club in the port city.
Among others, the demands included stopping extortion and harassment by highway police, withdrawal of fuel price hike, declining taxes and vat imposed on prices of motor parts, stopping irregularities and harassment by Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA) staff.
SM Hasibul Haq, convener of the platform, said if their demands are not met by the deadline, they would go on strike on March 4 and would extend the strike indefinitely in Chittagong and Sylhet divisions if necessary.
The transport owners and workers alleged that highway police harass them in the name of checking transport documents and demand extortion instead of ensuring their safe movement on the highway.
They alleged that they face corruption in BRTA office while issuing and renewing driving licences. They hardly get their licences, whether new or renewed, on time and without hassle if they do not pay bribe to the BRTA officials and their brokers, they added.
They further alleged that they have to pay extortion to the officials and operators of overload control machines in Meghna-Gomti Bridge, Moinamoti and Borodarogarhat of Chittagong.
Earlier on February 3, the transport owners and workers submitted a memorandum to the prime minister with regard to their problems.
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