Staff Reporter :
Bangladesh Covered Van-Truck-Prime Mover Goods Transport Owners Association has announced that the ongoing strike in protest against the latest hike in fuel prices will continue.
The announcement was made at a press conference at the office of the association in Tejgaon on Sunday.
The association took the decision to fulfil their three-point demand including the withdrawal of fuel price hike and
increased toll on Jamuna and Muktarpur bridges.
Abdul Motaleb, Additional Secretary General of Bangladesh Covered Van-Truck-Prime Mover Goods Transport Owners Association, said that the transport of goods across the country will remain closed indefinitely until the three-point demand is met.
“Those who used to pay Tk15,000 for freight from Dhaka to Chattogram will have to pay Tk18,000 if the fuel price goes up. But they will not pay, because the government has fixed our fare, so the withdrawal of hiked price of oil is the only way out,” he said.
He further said that they were forced to continue the strike as they have not had any formal talks with the government regarding this so far.
Another organisation for Truck, Covered van The Bangladesh Truck, Covered Van and Tanker Lorry Prime Movers Owners and Workers Coordinating Council Convener Rustam Ali Khan said there are various type of contract of Truck, covered van and Lorry’s with garments sector and others which will face great loss as they were engaged for annual basis.
The factory owners had signed contract papers with the commitments of with any circumstances no pair will be increased at contract period, he said.
Rustam Ali said the unplanned decision of the government will suffer with making unbearable loss of the Truck, Covered Van and Tanker Lorry owners and workers.
On the other hand, Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) another affected sector for Truck, Covered Van and Lorry strike.
Md Shahidullah Azim, Vice-President of BGMEA said that it has counted loss of Tk 471 million for three day transport strike.
He said with money another problem like shipment delay create image crisis for our export sector making buyers worried about getting their order on time.
Shahidullah Azim said another alarming issue that there is possibility to change the order to another country as such type of turmoil remains in our transport sector.
The government hiked diesel and kerosene prices by Tk15 to Tk 80 per litre on Wednesday, citing a volatile global market for crude oil. In response, transport owners and workers called an indefinite nationwide strike, demanding either a rise in fares or a reversal of the hike.
Commuters had to face a harrowing situation since Friday due to the indefinite nationwide transport strike.
