Public transports return to city roads

Plying of public transports has resumed in capital Dhaka after the agitating workers in the sector called off their strike that they enforced demanding amendment to the recently enforced Road Transport Act.

The workers withdrew their program on Thursday (Nov 21) morning after the home minister assured them of meeting their demands. Visiting different areas of the capital, Barta24.com correspondents found that the city has returned to its usual look with Shahbagh, Matsya Bhaban, Paltan and Gulistan areas witnessing traffic congestion.

The number of buses plying in other areas in the capital was also more than the previous day.
Commuters in the city, who suffered a lot for the transport strike, heaved a shy of relief after the resumption of public transport operation.

Mizanur Rahman, who was waiting at Shahbagh for Motijheel-bound bus, told Barta24.com, ‘Yesterday (Wednesday) we faced a lot of problems and had to spend excessive money to travel to the office.’

‘But today Motijheel-bound buses are coming in every five minutes. The trouble has gone as there are a lot of public buses on the streets,’ he added.

Pranab Biswas, the driver of a Tanjil Paribahan bus, told Barta24.com that all the buses of his company are operating on Thursday after the strike was called off. ‘I have with me all the relevant documents of my bus and myself. But still I’m scared of facing case or harassment by law enforcers,’ he added.

Transport workers began the strike in different districts to press amendment to the Road Transport Act-2018 replacing ‘the harsher punishment’ provisions with lenient ones.