Commuters suffer as transport owners, workers go on nationwide strike

The commuters are facing immense suffering as the transport owners and workers went on a nationwide strike on Friday morning to protest against the government decision of increasing the fuel price.

No public transports were seen across the city and other parts of the country. However, some BRTC buses, CNG-run auto-rickshaws, private cars, were plying on the streets in capital Dhaka with a large number of commuters waiting on road sides to reach their destinations on Friday morning.

Public transports including bus, minibus, goods-laden trucks stayed off the roads since the morning, leaving the city dwellers in a miserable condition.

No inter-district and long-route bus left Dhaka Gabtoli, Mohakhali, Sayedabad and Jatrabari bus terminal in response to the strike.

Besides, CNG-run auto-rickshaw, rickshaw-pullers and ridesharing drivers were seen at different parts of the capital charging excessive fares taking the advantage of the strike.

Many were seen traveling on rickshaw, auto-rickshaw by paying double fare of the usual one.

The government raised the prices of diesel and kerosene at the retail level on Wednesday.

The transport owners and workers went on the strike calling upon the government to readjust the diesel and kerosene prices.

They also vowed to continue the strike until their demand is met.

While talking to the Business Insider Bangladesh, Bangladesh Truck-Covered Van Owners Association President Tofazzal Hossain Majumder, said, “We suffered a lot during the lockdown period. We won’t face the sufferings again. The government should keep the diesel and kerosene prices at previous rate. Otherwise, we can’t run our vehicle,” Tofazzal said.