Transport worker strike and road safety

Bangladesh has long been suffering from chaos in the road transport sector and the recent student demonstrations for road safety was a manifestation of concerns in this regard. In response, the government gave a lot of assurances and even took certain practical measures, but to no avail. Accidents on the roads and highways continue unabated, with news of deaths and injuries pouring in every day.

At this juncture where everyone is seeking road safety, transport owners and workers have taken up a movement against the recently passed road transport laws.
The transport workers have held up transportation of goods in Dhaka and 17 adjacent areas. The Paribahan Malik Sramik Oikya Parishad (transport owners and workers unity council) is threatening a transport strike and further stringent programmes if the law is not amended by 12 October.
The transport workers obstructed vehicular movement on Sunday in the capital city areas of Jatrabari and Mohammedpur. In Paschim Dolaipar, transport workers halted goods-laden vehicles and harassed the drivers on pretext of checking their licences. They smeared burnt engine oil on the faces of drivers without licences. In Gazipur, certain transport workers damaged vehicles, misbehaved with journalists, assaulted them and even harassed passersby.
Such behaviour is totally unacceptable. The workers can voice their demands in a peaceful manner. They must abstain from such forceful and unlawful activities. And it also must been seen whether their demands are at all justified.
It is all too common for drivers to have fake licences or no licences at all, to violate the traffic rules and drive recklessly, leading to fatal accidents. This cannot be denied, but at the same time all workers of the transport sector cannot be accused of such tendencies.
There certainly are skilled drivers with valid licences who follow the rules of the road. But those who are guilty of creating chaos on the roads and increasing the risks of accidents, should not be allowed to go unpunished. There is no reason for legal action not be taken against them.
We hope the responsible leaders among the transport owners and workers feel the need for road safety and discipline. They must move away from any unjustified stand that goes against public interest.