Dhaka: Passengers have been left suffering as Bangladesh Road Transport Workers Federation went on a countrywide indefinite strike on Tuesday protesting court verdicts that sentenced a driver to death and another to life imprisonment.

The federation which enforced the strike in the morning threatened to continue the strike until their demands are met.

Khulna regional committee of Bangladesh Road Transport Workers Federation went on an indefinite transport strike in 10 districts of Khulna on Saturday protesting a court verdict that sentenced to life imprisonment bus driver Jamir Hossain in connection with a road crash that killed five people, including prominent filmmaker Tareque Masud and renowned cinematographer Mishuk Munier, in 2011.

However, it withdrew the strike on Monday.

Meanwhile, the central leaders of the federation took the decision of enforcing a countrywide indefinite strike at a meeting in the capital on Monday night as a court here sentenced another driver, Mir Hossain Miru, to death in a case filed over a road crash that left a woman dead in Savar in 2003.

Khandaker Enayet Ullah, secretary general of Bangladesh Road Transport Workers Federation, said they will continue the strike until the government takes any step to ensure 'justice' to their fellowmen.

Contacted, Tajul Islam, president of Bangladesh Inter-district Truck Drivers’ Union, told UNB that they will continue the strike for an indefinite period if their demands are not met. “Drivers can’t drive vehicles with life imprisonment and death penalty on their shoulders.”

He, however, said the government can resolve the problems through discussions with their leader Shipping Minister Shajahan Khan.

In the capital, no inter-district bus left Gabtoli, Mohakhali or Sayedabad bus terminals in the morning.

Transport workers stopped vehicle movement on the highways and even obstructed vehicles to ply.

UNB Benapole correspondent adds: Loading and unloading of goods at Benapole land port came to a halt due to the strike. The goods-carrying vehicles remained stuck at Benapole land port.

All modes of vehicles, including the long-distance ones, stayed off the roads due to the strike.

No long-route bus was seen leaving or entering Khulna, Barisal, Sylhet, Chittagong, Rangpur, Rajshahi and Myemensingh due to the strike.

Besides, loading and unloading work at Mongla Sea Port in Bagerhat and Bhomra Land Port in Satkhira was hampered due to the strike.

Transports workers staged demonstrations in many parts of the country to press home their demands.

However, local buses and CNG-run auto-rickshaws were seen plying in many districts.