Eviction of illegal microbus stand: Transport workers remove barricade on Dhaka-Sylhet highway

After two hours of blockade on Dhaka-Sylhet highway, transport workers have removed the barricade after assurance from police.  

The protesters removed the barricade around 4:30pm after a discussion between police and the workers, Monirul Islam, officer-in-charge of Dakshin Surma Police Station confirmed the development to The Daily Star.

Vowing to free the stand from illegal occupiers, Sylhet City Corporation Mayor Ariful Haque Choudhury said, the illegal stand will be evicted regardless of the barriers.

Transport workers blocked Dhaka-Sylhet highway at 2:15pm at Humayun Rashid Chattar in Chowhatta area this afternoon after repeated clashes with SCC staffers and police, centering the eviction drive of an illegal microbus stand built by occupying footpath and road at Amberkhana-Chowhatta area in the city.

Transport workers locked into clashes with SCC staffers and police during the eviction drive earlier in the day. Police detained a man with illegal firearms during the incident.  

Transport workers locked in altercation with SCC Mayor Ariful when he along with police and SCC staffers went to the area at around 12:30pm to remove the illegal stand, police claimed.

At one point, the agitating transport workers hurled brickbats targeting police and SCC staffers -- triggering the clash, said Foisol Mahmud, deputy police commissioner (Traffic) of Sylhet Metropolitan Police.

He informed that transport workers have been demonstrating against the decision to remove the illegal stand and finally, they clashed with police and SCC staff today during the eviction drive.

None was reported injured till filling this report.