Nationwide 72-hour transport strike from 12 August
- Update Time : Friday, 8 August, 2025, 07:46 pm
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Online Desk : The Bangladesh Road Transport Owners Association has issued an ultimatum, threatening a 72-hour nationwide strike starting Tuesday (August 12) if the government fails to amend critical provisions of the Road Transport Act 2018. The announcement came after a meeting of the Road Transport Owners-Workers Coordination Council held in Jashore on Friday. Saiful Alam, General Secretary of the association, outlined eight key demands and declared that the strike would begin at 6:00 AM on August 12, lasting until 6:00 AM on August 15, unless the authorities take action.
The most pressing demand is the revision of Sections 98 and 105 of the Act, which currently deny bail to drivers involved in road accidents. Alam emphasized that bail is a constitutionally guaranteed right and criticized the existing provisions as overly punitive, often resulting in the unjust detention of drivers—even in minor or unintentional incidents. Other demands include extending the operational lifespan of commercial vehicles, reducing the rate of advance income tax on transport businesses, relaxing import restrictions on reconditioned vehicles, introducing dedicated lanes for specific categories of vehicles, streamlining and accelerating driver licensing and vehicle registration processes and addressing long-pending labor-related concerns of transport workers.
Saiful called on the government to engage in immediate dialogue and revise the law to ensure fairness, operational sustainability, and legal protection for transport operators. He warned that the proposed strike would involve all segments of road transport, potentially bringing intercity and urban mobility to a standstill. “We are not seeking special privileges, only reasonable and constitutional rights,” he said. “If our demands are ignored, we will be forced to take this difficult step for the sake of justice and survival of the sector.” The association urged authorities to act swiftly to avert widespread disruption to transportation, trade, and daily life across the country.
