Banned AL syndicate still active in transport sector: Worker leaders

Transport worker leaders have alleged that extortion, syndicates, and occupation by the banned Awami League and its associates have yet to cease completely in the road transport sector.

They claimed the irregularities and anarchy fostered over the past 17 years continue to affect the industry. To overcome this, they demanded an end to extortion and syndicates, curbs on unfit vehicles, and fixed wages alongside proper training for drivers and helpers to rid the sector of mafia influence.

These demands were raised at a protest organised by the Bangladesh Jatiya Sarak Paribahan Sramik Federation in front of the National Press Club around 10:45 AM on Thursday (November 12).

The demonstration protested arson attacks, transport anarchy, and the burning to death of a sleeping bus driver by the fascist Awami League and its cohorts.

Addressing the gathering, former MP and BNP Chairman's Advisory Council member Nazim Uddin Alam said democracy and personal freedom were stripped away during the Awami League's 17-year rule.

He demanded justice for crimes including secret detention centres (Aynaghar), false cases, and the killings of students, citizens, and activists during July-August, alongside trials for those involved in looting national wealth and laundering money abroad.

He alleged that ongoing attempts are being made to destabilise the country by setting buses ablaze and attacking sleeping drivers and ordinary passengers. Stressing that perpetrators must not be spared, he called for speedy trials for all killings, ranging from the Pilkhana massacre to the July-August atrocities.

Regarding sector reform, Nazim Uddin Alam said the transport industry must be disciplined and freed from mafia control to move the country forward under Tarique Rahman's leadership. He urged transport owners and workers to unite to ensure passenger safety.

Bangladesh NGO Foundation General Secretary and Governing Body Chairman Khondaker Md Mortazul Karim (Badru) noted that corruption, looting, and chaos have escalated in the road transport sector over the past 17 years.

He attributed the anarchy on the roads to unfit, dilapidated buses lacking seats and glass, a shortage of driver training and licences, and the absence of appointment letters and fixed salaries for transport workers.

Pointing out that influential quarters had established extortion rings and syndicates at transport terminals in the past, he called for strict legal action against those responsible to halt such malpractices.

Outlining proposals to modernise the sector, Mortazul Karim stressed ensuring fixed wages, identity cards, and appointment letters for drivers and helpers, alongside mandatory training and valid licences. He added that introducing QR code technology to verify vehicle fitness would effectively stop unfit vehicles from operating on the roads.

He further urged nationalist-minded worker leaders to remain united to eliminate irregularities and anarchy, calling on workers, owners, and all relevant stakeholders to work together.

-SA