CORRECTS - Bangladesh transport workers protest driver verdict

CORRECTS DRIVER'S SENTENCE TO LIFE IN PRISON

By Mainul Islam Khan

DHAKA, Bangladesh (AA) - Bangladesh’s Transport Workers’ Federation has announced a countrywide strike from Tuesday morning protesting a court verdict that sentenced a bus driver to life in prison earlier this month.

The verdict was given Feb. 22 for a 2011 head-on collision of a passenger bus and a van that killed five people, including prominent filmmakers Tareque Masud and Mishuk Munier.

On Sunday, Minister for Shipping Shahjahan Khan -- who also serves as leader to the transport workers -- expressed support for the strike and their right to protest.

Obaidul Quader, minister for road transport and bridges, suggested that the workers instead bring up a case in the High Court.

Didarul Ahsan, a bus company director, told Anadolu Agency on Tuesday that the strike was launched following a decision by the workers’ federation.

"The strike will continue until further decision comes from the workers’ federation. So all buses in our pool are now parked idle in the terminal," he said.

In 2016 alone, at least 4,000 people died in more than 2,000 road accidents across Bangladesh, according to statistics gathered by road safety organization Nirapada Sarak Chai (We demand Safe Road) and published by national daily Prothom Alo.

Most of the accidents were caused by reckless driving on highways.