Nationwide transport strike from Nov 5 over fuel price hike

Dhaka: Public and goods transport owners called an indefinite countrywide strike from November 5 until further notice, protesting the latest hike in fuel prices.

Rustam Ali Khan, Executive President of Bangladesh Road Transport Owners Association, confirmed the issue, said reports.

On November 3, the government increased diesel and kerosene prices by BDT 15 per litre -- from BDT 65 to BDT 80 -- in order to keep them in line with rising fuel prices in the global market.

Transport owners suffered huge losses following the Covid-19 pandemic anyway.

The government has increased the toll for two bridges and now they hiked fuel price without any discussion with the transport owners, Rustam said, adding, "We will continue the strike until the government changes its decision."

Moshiur Rahman Ranga, President of the organisation, said, although they did not call the strike from the centre, their branches in districts decided not to operate transport from November 5, protesting the fuel price hike.

Transport owners and workers are demanding that bus fare for various routes be adjusted according to fuel price hike.

They are claiming, a bus owner earns around BDT 8,000 by operating a bus on a 45km route for 10 days. They would not be able to make profit if they had to continue to operate buses at current fares while also paying higher fuel prices.

Many bus companies have already suspended operations; others will start on November 5, said reports.