Sylhet Businessmen Give Deadline
Shift trade fair venue within 24 hours
Businessmen in the city yesterday kept their shutters down till 12 noon and formed a human chain protesting the move to hold the local trade fair on Government Alia Madrasa ground.
In the morning, the business people in separate processions from different markets and shopping malls gathered at the Central Shaheed Minar. The human chain was formed from the Modhubon Market to Chouhatta area. Later they took out a big procession which paraded the city.
Sylhet Zila Bayboshayee Oikya Kalyan Parishad called the programme. It gave a 24-hour ultimatum to the authorities to shift the fair venue from Alia ground. Otherwise, a tougher agitation would be launched, the leaders threatened at a rally yesterday.
Parishad's president Sheikh Md Mokon Miah, also a UP chairman, chaired the brief rally held after the human chain while president of city unit of the parishad Abdus Salam and leaders from other market committees spoke.
They vowed to go for tougher agitation if their demand to shift the venue not met in 24 hours.
Sources said, the Sylhet Chamber of Commerce & Industry (SCCI) is preparing to hold a month-long trade fair in the city's Alia Madrasa ground within a few weeks.
The authorities first decided to hold the fair at Uposhahar field from 7 May. But it was changed and a decision was taken to arrange the fair on the madrasa ground. But due to objection from different quarters, the fresh date is yet to be finalised, said an official of the SCCI yesterday.
In the past too, the city's businessmen raised protests against holding trade fair at Alia ground.
The authorities in the face of protest were compelled to shift the fair venue to the MC College field a few years ago.
Besides, about a hundred people were injuries as the businessmen and others clashed with cops during a protest procession.
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