CNG auto-rickshaw strike called in Sylhet from November 16 over five demands

CNG-run auto-rickshaw owners' and workers' leaders in Sylhet have warned of an indefinite strike from 6am on 16 November if no steps are taken by 15 November to implement their five-point demands.

The announcement was made at a meeting of owners' and workers' representatives at a community centre in Chandipul, Dakshin Surma, on Monday afternoon.

Zakaria Ahmed, president of the Sylhet District CNG-run Auto-rickshaw Workers' Union (707), announced the strike in his speech as chief guest at the meeting.

The meeting was organised by the owners-workers coordination council formed by the Sylhet District CNG-run Auto-rickshaw Owners' Association, the Sylhet District CNG-run Auto-rickshaw Workers' Union and the Sylhet District Auto-tempo/Auto-rickshaw Drivers' Alliance.

The meeting was presided over by Anwar Hossain, president of the Sylhet District CNG-run Auto-rickshaw Owners' Association, and conducted by Raja Ahmed and M Barkat Ali.

Zakaria Ahmed said everyone must stay united to solve the problems of the transport sector and to realise the just demands of owners and workers. Discipline in the transport sector can be maintained through mutual cooperation and coordination between owners and workers, he said.

Zakaria Ahmed called on the authorities concerned to implement the five-point demands quickly. He alleged that the administration has started harassing transport workers. As soon as they take their vehicles out on the road, they are harassed with cases on various pretexts, he said.

Zakaria Ahmed said a driver earns between 1,000 and 1,500 taka a day driving, but police fine them 5,000 to 10,000 taka in a single case. He added that if the harassment is not stopped and the demands are not met, the workers will be forced to take to the streets.

The five-point demands include holding discussions and taking decisions on the registration of battery-run rickshaws and e-rickshaws; stopping easybikes, tomtoms, mishuks and battery-run rickshaws operating in the district and the city; giving registration to CNG-run auto-rickshaws bought from showrooms in Sylhet; and providing fuel and the driver's food allowance while on police duty.

The other two demands are arranging adequate parking for auto-rickshaws in the district and the city, and stopping harassing cases by traffic police, harassment by traffic officers and harassment by the BRTA in Sylhet.

Special guests who spoke at the meeting included Motechhir Ali, president of the Sylhet District Auto-tempo/Auto-rickshaw Drivers' Alliance; Md Azad Mia, general secretary of the Sylhet District CNG-run Auto-rickshaw Workers' Union; Md Jalal Ahmed, general secretary of the owners' association; and Md Delwar Ahmed, executive president of the drivers' alliance.

Also speaking at the meeting were Sundar Ali Khan, Shahabuddin Ahmed, Iqbal Hossain, Jamil Ahmed Liton, Badrul Islam Khokon, Mohammad Ali, Abdul Mannan, Kawsar Ahmed, Jamir Uddin, Sabuj Mia, Altaf Ahmed Chowdhury, Liton Ahmed, Rafiq Mia, Makbul Hossain, Phul Mia, Jilu Mia, Sujan Mia, Sebul Ahmed, Abdul Jalil, Sitab Ali, Md Raimul Islam, Delwar Hossain, Rasel Ahmed, Nur Islam, Neser Ahmed, Ali Hossain and Sheikh Babul.