The other demands of the Parishad include the launch of a multi-storied stopover bus terminal at Fulbaria in old part of the city, implementation of the contracts signed between the communications ministry and the Parishad, return of vehicle requisition dues to the transport owners and reorganisation of Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA) board.

Apart from its five-point demand, the Parishad yesterday at a press conference at the National Press Club also demanded of the government to set a guideline for legal toll collection to run the association.

Shahjahan Khan, Awami League lawmaker and member-secretary of the Parishad, read out a statement, in which he alleged that the government can stop legal toll but cannot stop extortion.

He said disorder and crisis due to improper government rules and regulations prevail in the transport sector, causing serious loss to small businessmen.

Shahjahan claimed that the Parishad, an organisation of 300 members and four other associations -- Bangladesh Sarak Paribahan Samity, Bangladesh Bus Truck Owners Association, Bangladesh Truck Malik Samity and Bangladesh Sarak Paribahan Sramik Federation -- is not responsible for extortion.

"Bangladesh Road Transport Corporation has become a leasing company as its buses are run by private operators. It hampers our business a lot, as the private operators are on the run without any investment," Shahjahan alleged.

On fake driving licence, he said the government had committed to issue licence in a developed way to stop forgery. But the process has not been executed.

Shahjahan said the government is yet to install check posts to watch over-overloading of trucks, which is mostly responsible for damage of the highways.

The Parishad will hold rallies in the districts and is likely to organise a grand rally at Paltan Maidan before calling the strike on December 20.

Among the leaders of the Parishad, Abdur Rashid Khan, Waziuddin Khan, M Rustam Ali Khan and Habibur Rahman were present.