Transport strike spells trouble for Patuakhali people

Indefinite strike enforced by transport workers in Patuakhali demanding repeal of new road transport act has brought huge sufferings to the commuters.

Bus services in internal all routes remained closed since early Wednesday, causing untold difficulties people, including tourists.

Several transport workers at Patuakhali Bus Terminal said they will not drive bus for indefinite period until their demand of cancelling new road law is met. 

Tourist Ismail Hossain said he along with family members came to Patuakhali by launch. Coming here, he faced difficulties to go to destination due to suspension of bus services.

Kalapara upazila resident Rob Khandaker said he with hundreds of people was waiting at Patuakhali Bus Terminal for vehicles but no bus available there.

Expressing her sufferings with heavy bag and baggage, Galachipa upazila resident Safia Begum sought intervention of administration quickly to normalise bus movement.  

Transport workers had been observing strike in different parts of the country since enforcement of the Road Transport Act, 2018 started on November 18. The workers demanded amendments to the act and reducing penalties against them under the law.   

The much talked Road Transport Act, 2018 came into effect on November 1 more than 13 months after it was passed in the Jatiya Sangsad in September 2018.

The law was enacted in the wake of countrywide student protests after two students of Ramiz Uddin Cantonment College in the capital were killed by a reckless bus in Dhaka on July 29 of that year.