Long Distance Public Transport

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Owners and workers demand introduction of long distance public transport before Eid

President of Bangladesh Road Transport Workers Federation Shahjahan Khan read out a written statement at the press conference.

He said, "Since May 6, the government has decided to ease the lockdown and operate public transport within the metropolis and districts. But long-distance public transport is closed. This has caused dissatisfaction among owners and workers. There is a risk of further increase in corona, so long-distance mass and freight transport must be introduced in accordance with health regulations."

In a written statement, Shahjahan Khan demanded five points.

He said that all types of public transport, including long-distance transport with half of the total seats, should be given the opportunity to transport goods and normal goods in compliance with the health rules. Unemployed road transport workers will have to provide financial assistance and food aid before the upcoming Eid due to the lockdown. As public transport is closed in lockdown, owners will have to pay Tk 5,000 crore in nominal interest and easy terms to pay for vehicle repairs, salaries of employees and workers, allowances and Eid bonuses.

Transport workers at bus and truck terminals across the country will have to make arrangements to sell OMS rice at Tk 10 before and after the upcoming Eid. Due to Covid-19, installments including interest waiver of all bank loans, financial institution loans and loans of privately owned companies will have to be postponed till December 31 and classified loans will have to be declassified with 2 percentage down payment.