The government had no prior information about the ongoing transport strike in Khulna, said Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA) chairman Nur Mohammad Mazumder on Friday.
"Transport workers and owners neither informed us (BRTA) formally of any strike nor placed any demands."
Mr Mazumder said this in reply to a query at a press conference marking 'National Road Safety Day-2022' organised at BRTA office in Banani area.
Khulna District Bus-Minibus Owners' Association and Motor Workers' Union called a 48-hour strike from 6:00 am of Friday, protesting the operation of unauthorised battery-run easy-bikes, three-wheelers and Nasimon-Karimon vehicles there.
Meanwhile, launch workers in the district also declared a 48-hour strike demanding a wage hike.
But Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), which is scheduled to stage a divisional rally in Khulna today, claimed the strike action is part of a "conspiracy" to prevent BNP activists from joining it.
Against this backdrop, the BRTA chairman said, "We know nothing about the strike in Khulna as transport operators and workers didn't notify us beforehand."
Delivering his thoughts on road safety earlier, Mr Mazumder said whatever infrastructure the country has is not utilised properly for lack of public awareness.
Stating that stopping traffic here and there for passengers is an offence, he said, "I request transport operators to stop their vehicles on designated spots to bring discipline in traffic."
Referring that the BRTA conducts drives through its mobile courts six days a week to ensure road safety, he said those who violate traffic rules will be punished, if needed, to bring order in streets.
Criticising commuters' tendency to not walk to the designated spots for boarding a bus, Mr Mazumder said, "People wants to ride a bus from in front of their home, they don't want to walk a bit towards the designated bus stops."
Besides, pedestrians are reluctant to use zebra crossings and footbridges that often lead to accidents for such indiscriminate road crossings, he added.
The BRTA chief further said that many people, even under-age boys, drive motorcycles without obtaining any driving licence, causing chaos in road and increasing the risk of accidents.
The country is set to observe 'National Road Safety Day' for the sixth time on Saturday with the slogan 'Follow the Law on Road, Return Home Safely'.
The BRTA has taken multiple initiatives to observe the day, mostly focusing on raising public awareness.
Besides, the authorities will carry out a week-long road safety awareness campaign from October 23 to 29 in four different places of the capital.
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