Picture taken at Farmgate with no public buses seen, due to the countrywide 48 hours transport stkire, on October 28, 2018 Dhaka Tribune

Osmal Ali, secretary general of the federation on Sunday said: 'The minister could have requested to cancel the strike before it started'

Bangladesh Road Transport Workers Federation leader has refused to withdraw the ongoing 48-hour countrywide transport strike.

Earlier in the day, Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader asked the workers to withdraw their strike.

Osmal Ali, Secretary General of Bangladesh Road Transport Workers Federation, said on Sunday: “The minister could have requested to cancel the strike before it started.

“We submitted a list of our demands to the government on September 27 but the minister did not respond to that. What will we tell our workers? We will continue the strike because we have not got any answers from the minister.”

Quader on October 23 said it was not possible to amend the Road Transport Act 2018 and that it was enacted after holding meetings with transport leaders for three years.

Osman also said: “After the strike ends on Tuesday (October 30), we will sit with transport leaders from all over the country and give further programs.”

Their eight point demand includes: