Leaders of the Bangladesh Road Transport Workers’ Association said on Sunday that buses on both city and long-distance routes would operate today, defying the shutdown called across the country by the Awami League ahead of the verdict, scheduled to be delivered today by the International Crimes Tribunal (ICT), in a case against Sheikh Hasina.  
At a press briefing in Motijheel, Humayun Kabir, the association’s secretary, said, “All types of vehicles across the country will run on Monday. If any untoward incident occurs, we will take steps to prevent it. The administration is working to maintain law and order, and transport owners and workers are working tirelessly to keep the communication system functioning.”
Referring to the recent violence, he further said, “Just a few days ago, around 20 vehicles were reportedly set on fire. In Mymensingh, our transport worker Julhas, a driver, was killed when a bus was set ablaze.”
He added that the association had organised protest marches in Mohakhali, Gabtoli, Sayedabad, Gulistan and Fulbaria, demanding government compensation for transport workers who had been killed, injured, or burned, as well as for the owners of vandalised vehicles. 
Meanwhile, road transport owners operating Barishal- and Khulna-bound services announced that they would enforce a strike on bus, minibus and microbus operations from 2 December, continuing until the operation of BRTC buses, CNG-run and battery-powered auto-rickshaws is halted. 
At a press conference held at Bagerhat Press Club on Sunday, leaders of the local road transport owners’ association demanded that all types of three-wheelers - including easy-bikes, Mahindra and Nasimon vehicles - be barred from operating without government permission. They also formed a human chain on Shahid Minar Road in the city in support of their demands.
Mohammad Anwarul Islam, president of the Rupsha–Bagerhat Bus, Minibus, Coach and Microbus Owners’ Association, said, “Despite several meetings with the administration, no agreement has been reached on our demand to stop the unauthorised operation of all types of three-wheelers.”
He added, “As our three-point demands have not been met, ten inter-district bus, minibus, coach and microbus owners’ associations from seven districts in the Khulna and Barishal divisions - including Khulna, Bagerhat, Pirojpur and Jhalokathi - are calling an indefinite transport strike from 2 December across 18 routes.”