Buses back on the streets as transport workers lift nationwide strike 

Transport owners and workers have started running buses after withdrawing their strike that had crippled the country for two days.

Staff Correspondentbdnews24.com
Published : 1 March 2017, 11:26 AM
Updated : 2 March 2017, 04:38 AM

Long-haul buses have started to leave from the terminals in Dhaka following Shipping Minister Shajahan Khan's call for an end to the strike after, what he said 'receiving government's assurances.'

Khan is also the executive president of Bangladesh Transport Workers' Federation.

Bus services have started to operate from the inter-district terminals at the capital's Mohakhali and Gabtoli.

"Workers' union leaders have told us over phone that bus services can resume. We are going to start the services," Dhaka-based operator Hanif Paribahan's Manager Almas Alam.

Dhaka District Bus Workers Union's General Secretary Shahidullah Sadu told bdnews24.com that they have managed to negotiate with the drivers.

"Our leaders have assured us the matter will be solved in keeping with the due legal processes...Transport services resumed from 2:30pm."

The wildcat strike across Bangladesh protesting against the conviction of two drivers in road crashes started early on Tuesday causing huge sufferings for commuters.

As the strike entered the second day, Road Transport Minister Obaidul Quader held a brief meeting at his office on Wednesday with Law Minister Anisul Huq, Shipping Minister Shahjahan Khan, State Minister Mashiur Rahman Ranga and Bangladesh Road Transport Owners Association (BRTOA) Secretary General Enayet Ullah.

After that meeting, Khan, Ranga and Enayet Ullah met with representatives of several unions of owners and workers at the BRTOA office at Dhaka's Motijheel.

At a media briefing after the meeting, Minister Shajahan Khan said, "I am urging the owners and workers to end the strike. I hope the situation will now be normal."

Khan heads the country's apex union, the Bangladesh Transport Workers' Federation while Ranga is the president of the top transport owners' platform BRTOA.

Following the press conference, buses started to roll out from the inter-district terminals in Dhaka.

Soon after Minister Khan's call, the High Court ordered the government to ensure resuming transport within 24 hours.

After hearing a petition by rights body, it also issued a rule on organising strikes against court verdicts and asked why legal action should not be taken against those responsible.