And so they were defaulting on paying bank loans, they added, expressing apprehension that if the present situation persisted they might have to wind up their business.
Transport sector had incurred huge loss due to vandalism and arson during political programmes, said Bangladesh Sarak Paribahan Samity Secretary General Khandker Enayet Ullah.
“Transport owners had suffered a loss of around Tk 904 million due to vandalism in last one year,” he said, talking to bdnews24.com.
‘“On the other hand, they incur a loss of around Tk 3 billion if their buses, trucks and covered vans remain off the roads for a day.”
“So it is easy to assume what is our condition now.”
He said about 800 vehicles had been burned down and around 3000 others damaged during political shutdowns and blockades in the last one year.
“Many owners are seeking to close down their businesses. How can they run their business when they cannot repay their bank loan,” he said.
Enayet Ullah estimated that there were around 0.3 million buses, trucks and covered vans in the country. Of them, 200 thousands were bought through bank loans.
“Business has been deteriorating day by day. If loan is not repaid on time, interest also starts increasing.”
“Many have become destitute. If such a situation persists, private transport sector won’t last any longer.”
According to Bangladesh Bank, around Tk 650 million was invested on transport equipment and spares until Mar 31 of the current fiscal.
• Around Tk 4 billion for automobiles, including CNG conversion.
• Around Tk 60.8 billion for transport and communications.
• Around Tk 30 billion for vehicles that includes buses, trucks, auto-rickshaws and taxicabs.
Besides this, around Tk 18 billion was invested on water transport that includes launches, ferries and steamers and Tk 12 billion for aircrafts.
Enayet Ullah called for talks between two political parties for safeguarding transport sector.
Many transport workers’ income has almost stopped as their vehicle could not ply on the roads due to shutdowns and blockades.
“There are around 3 million workers in the transport sector,” said Office Secretary of Bangladesh Sarak Paribahan Samity, Badal Chowdhury, speaking to bdnews24.com.
“When vehicles stop operating, income of the transport workers get affected too. How their families will sustain? Our politicians should think about this.”
“Many of them have gone back to their native villages to work as day-labourers.”
According to Badal, around 33 transport workers had died and around 500 injured in shutdowns and blockades until November 30 this year.
Around 80 percent of the workers get their wages on daily basis. Only 20 percent get monthly wages, Enayet Ullah said.
“We follow the policy of Bangladesh Bank in disbursing loans,” said Helal Ahmed Chowdhury, Managing Director of Pubali Bank Ltd.
“As per the policy, if any borrower fails to repay the loan due to unavoidable circumstances, we give them more time to repay.”
“But those who do not repay loan wilfully, we show zero tolerance towards them.”
Of late there has been a growing trend to make railways a target. This has started from February after the strike called against Jamaat-e-Islami leader Delwar Hossain Sayedee’s death sentence for his crimes against humanity in 1971.
Since then the railway sector has suffered a loss of Tk 320 million due to acts of sabotages during different political programmes, Railways Minister Mujibul Hoque had said on Nov 28.
Due to sabotage of railway properties, railways incurred a loss of Tk 32 crore, he had said.
On preventing the attacks, Communications Ministry's Roads Division Secretary MAN Siddique said, “There is a clear directive from the Home Ministry to provide security to the transport sectors. As far as we know police are working to prevent violence.”
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