Bangladesh:Transport strike against fuel price hike hits daily life

In Bangladesh, normal life was affected following a nationwide indefinite transport strike against the hike in diesel prices.The countrywide transport strike has started on Friday. Roads in Dhaka city were empty as no local or long-distance buses, trucks and lorries plied in the city. Similar reports were received from places like Natore, Cumilla, Chattogram, Rajshahi, Pabna and many other towns of Bangladesh. The movement of imported goods from the Chattogram port has been affected as the entry of vehicles in the port was obstructed by the protesting people.Mahbubul Alam, president of the Chittagong Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said: “The strike has put a halt to commodities transportation across the country. This has a massive effect on the import-export market. In the national interest, the strike should be called off.

However, smaller public transport vehicles like auto-rickshaws, motorcycles and vans remained functional. Meanwhile, Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obadiul Quader urged the transport owners and organizations to call off the strike considering the hardship to the common people. He told the media in Dhaka,that a meeting will be held at the Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BTRA) office on Sunday over the revision of the transport fare. The government increased diesel and kerosene prices by Tk15 per litre — from Tk65 to Tk80 — in order to keep them in line with rising fuel prices in the global market.The government's decision will affect prices of every commodity and service, including food and transport, and make life harder for those with limited means, says Ghulam Rahman, president of Consumers Association of Bangladesh.