Drive against old vehicles: Transport leaders threaten strike from August 12

Transport owners and workers yesterday threatened to enforce a 72-hour nationwide strike from August 12 to press home their eight-point demand, including halting the ongoing crackdown on outdated vehicles and extending the economic lifespan of such vehicles by five to 10 years.

Leaders of three major associations -- the Bangladesh Road Transport Owners' Association, Bangladesh Bus-Truck Owners' Association, and Bangladesh Road Transport Workers' Federation -- made the announcement at a press conference at the Jatiya Press Club.

Saiful Alam, secretary general of the Bangladesh Road Transport Owners' Association, read out a statement outlining their demands.

The announcement came within a week of the government launching a countrywide drive on July 20 against vehicles that have exceeded their economic lifespan. The campaign began about a month after the government set the economic lifespan of buses and minibuses at 20 years, and goods-laden vehicles, such as trucks and lorries -- at 25 years.

According to BRTA data updated on July 16, a total of 39,169 buses and minibuses, and 41,140 trucks, lorries, and tankers have crossed their economic lifespan.

Saiful said the recent drives to remove vehicles aged 20-25 years have already triggered strikes in various districts, raising concerns of a complete transport shutdown. To address the issue, a joint meeting was held on July 20, where the transport leaders urged authorities to resolve the matter within 15 working days. After that time passed without a solution, they decided to enforce a three-day strike starting August 12.

He said the economic lifespan of commercial vehicles should be extended to 30 years. While supporting the government's aim of reducing environmental pollution, he argued that pollution is primarily caused by vehicles using substandard fuel and lubricants or failing to maintain them properly. Since all parts of a vehicle except the chassis, including the engine, are replaceable, any vehicle failing a fitness test or proven to cause pollution should be declared unfit, regardless of age.

Previously, expired vehicles were barred only from operating in metropolitan areas but were allowed in districts with valid BRTA fitness certificates. "This provision must be retained," he said.

He also demanded that BRTA suspend its ongoing crackdown on older vehicles until these issues are resolved.

Among their other demands is the amendment to sections 98 and 105 of the Road Transport Act-2018, along with several other recommended provisions.

Saiful also called for the rollback of the recently doubled advance income tax (AIT) on commercial vehicles to its previous rate.

To support the phasing out of expired vehicles, he proposed increasing the import age limit for commercial reconditioned vehicles, including buses, trucks, lorries, and prime movers, from five years to 12 years.

Their other demands include the formulation of a scrappage policy for outdated vehicles and ensuring that three-wheelers and other unauthorised light vehicles operate on separate lanes on highways.

The top leaders of all three associations were present at the briefing.