3rd day of transport strike: commuters’ sufferings turn boundless

As transports went off roads across the country, for the third day in a row on Sunday in protest of rising fuel oil prices, commuters are experiencing immeasurable agonies.

Office-goers, school and college children have fallen into extreme miseries. People are not able to travel across the country due to the general strike enforced jointly by the bus and truck owners’ associations, witnesses said.

All modes of transport, such as buses, mini-buses, trucks, and covered vans across the country have stopped plying.

On Sunday morning, hundreds of people were standing across the bus stops in the city for whatever transports are available to reach their destinations.

Many commuters bank on rickshaws, auto-rickshaws and CNG-run auto-rickshaws to commute by paying much higher fares.

A good number of people were seen travelling on rickshaw vans in groups while few boarded pickup vans.

To exploit the situation, ridesharing motorbikes have gone off-app and are plying on contract basis. They are charging way too much, some office-goers alleged.

Nusrat Farin who works at Mohakhali and travels by public BRTC bus for Tk 15 every day, said “Today, the ridesharing app, Pathao, is asking for Tk 300 to get me there. They are taking advantage of our situation while we are in danger.”

Most of the roads in the capital were seen occupied by rickshaws and CNG-powered auto rickshaws.

Several commuters complained that rickshaw pullers and CNG drivers are demanding double or three times more the fare.

Mizanur Rahman works as an office assistant in a private company and travels to Motijheel by a bus every day and pays Tk 20, was asked Tk 300 by a rickshaw-puller on Sunday morning. He said, "There is nothing to do. I have to go to the office, otherwise I will lose my job.”

Hamida Khatun was seen standing at Mohammadpur bus stand with her husband from 8:30 am to 9:30 am but she could not board any BRTC buses because of the sardined situation inside.

“Today I have a doctor’s appointment and I was asked to go by 10 am but no rickshaw-puller wants to go to Mohakhali. On the other hand, CNG drivers are asking for Tk 500,” she said.

Many people were seen walking.

Earlier on Thursday, Md Rustom Ali, convener of Bangladesh Truck-Covered Van, Tank Lorry and Prime Movers Owners and Workers Coordination Council, reiterated that the strike will continue in protest of Tk 15 hike in per liter diesel and kerosene prices.

Meanwhile, Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA) is holding a meeting with the owners and workers on Sunday to discuss finding a way out of the stalemate.

Earlier on Saturday, a section of goods-laden transport leaders met with the home affairs minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal with their demands while the meeting ended with no positive solutions.