A HANDFUL of people at the top representing the associations of road transport owners and workers control the sector by holding hostage the people in their own interest, observe experts and campaigners in a recent discussion. An overall change in the transport system could be ensured by establishing control of the authorities and raising awareness among all concerned about their rights, especially among the workers, as per the laws. However, senior transport sector leaders admitted that ‘problems’ lay in the leadership. Currently the country is facing a crisis in the transport sector following implementation of the Road Transport Act 2018. The new road law came into effect on November 1 more than 13 months after it was passed in the Jatiya Sangsad in September 2018 but Road Transport and Bridges Minister twice deferred enforcement of the law for making people aware of it.
Finally, the government began implementing the law on November 17 amid work abstention of transport workers in different districts. This stranglehold which the transport workers have on the nation will persist as long as there is a crisis of alternative transports on roads. According to the Dhaka Urban Transportation Network Development Study about 60 percent commuters in the capital depend on public buses for movement. There are no other major means of transport operating. Leaders of transport owners and workers both utilise this advantage and establish their monopoly on the roads by putting people in trouble.
In this country we often hear talks about the rule of law. But we are sparing the big thieves and imprison the small ones. If a dacoit robs an individual he is beaten to death but when a small clique of transport workers hold the nation hostage or increase fares then nothing is done. No political parties think about checking this situation because all have vested interests. That’s why there have been no attempts to regulate the sector since independence as the transport leaders think that they have links to the ruling party. So why should they bother to follow the laws?
