The Bangladesh Road Transport Owners-Workers Coordination Council has declared a 72-hour nationwide transport strike starting from 6:00 am on 12 August and ending at 6:00 am on 15 August. The strike has been called to press an eight-point demand, including amendments to the Road Transport Act.

The announcement was made on Friday (8 August) afternoon by Saiful Alam, General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Bangladesh Road Transport Owners Association, following a meeting at the Bangladesh Transport Workers’ Union office in Jashore.

Central President Kofil Uddin Ahmed issued an ultimatum, stating that the strike will go ahead if the demands are not met before 12 August.

During the meeting, leaders criticised the Road Transport Act 2018, calling it a “black law.” They demanded amendments to sections 98 and 105, along with other provisions recommended by the sector. Among their demands were extending the economic lifespan of commercial vehicles from 20–25 years to 30 years, reducing the doubled advance tax on commercial vehicles imposed in the budget to its previous rate, and extending the permissible import age for reconditioned commercial vehicles from 5 to 12 years.

Other points included ensuring that accident-damaged vehicles seized by police are returned to their owners within 72 hours, introducing a scrap policy for expired vehicles, creating separate lanes for unapproved light vehicles such as auto-rickshaws and three-wheelers on highways, expediting the delivery and renewal of driving licences, and implementing the 12-point demand of the Workers’ Federation.

The meeting, chaired by Anisur Rahman Liton, President of the Council’s Khulna Division, was also addressed by Abdur Rahim Box Dudu, President of the Bangladesh Transport Workers Federation, and Yusuf Ali, General Secretary of the Owners-Workers Unity Council for Barisal Division.

Leaders from Barisal, Khulna, and the Greater Faridpur regions were in attendance.