Transport strike withdrawn: Home minister

Agitating transport owners and workers withdrew their strike early Thursday after the government assured them of accepting their reasonable demands, reports news agency UNB.

Home minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal said this while talking to newsmen after a meeting with leaders of Bangladesh Truck, Covered-van Goods Transport Owners-Workers Oikya Parishad at his Dhanmondi residence in the small hours of the day.

“We’ve considered their demands. Responding to their first demand, drivers will be allowed to use their current driving licenses until 30 June next year,” said the minister.

The authorities will also consider other demands, he added.

The Oikya Parishad went on a work abstention across the country for an indefinite period protesting against implementation of the Road Transport Act, causing immense sufferings to passengers and dealing a heavy blow to traders.

They announced that they would abstain from work across the country from 6:00am on Wednesday to press home their seven-point demand, including bringing changes to the new law.

The home minister met the Parishad leaders at 9:00pm on Wednesday. The meeting ended at midnight.