Khulna bus strike called off

Transport workers yesterday called off their indefinite strike in Khulna division, ongoing since May 19, after the authorities assured them of meeting their demands including the release of a bus driver and his assistant who were arrested on the charge of being involved in a highway robbery.

Shipping Minister Shajahan Khan and State Minister for Home Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal assured the workers of fulfilling their demands, which also include putting a stop to robberies and harassment by police on highways, at a meeting at the home ministry.

"The driver and helper will get bail through legal procedure as they are innocent," Osman Ali, general secretary of Bangladesh Sarak Paribahan Sramik Federation, told The Daily Star.

The two were arrested when the driver took the bus to Modhukhali Police Station to file a general diary (GD) over a robbery in the bus on May 19. On May 21, Officer-in-Charge of Modhukhali Ruhul Amin told The Daily Star that the bus passengers gavestatements against the driver, and one passenger filed a case against them for the robbery.

The case will be transferred to the Criminal Investigation Department, and the inspector general will supervise the investigation, said meeting sources.

In addition, two separate committees will be formed to investigate different incidents of robberies and role of law enforcers.