Indefinite transport strike in SW region
Ban on Nasimon, Karimon, battery-run vehicles demanded
Transport owners and workers jointly enforced an indefinite strike on all 18 routes in the south-western (S-W) region yesterday demanding ban on plying of human haulers Nasimon and Karimon and illegal battery-run vehicles.
Earlier on May 15, Rupsha-Begerhat Bus Owners' Association, Bagerhat Bus owners' Association and Pirojpur Bus owners' Association gave an ultimatum to the government to meet their demands by May 21.
"We were compelled to go on transport strike for indefinite period as the authorities met none of our demands", said Md Moniruzzaman Moni, general secretary of Bagerhat Inter-district Bus Owners' Association.
"We held district and divisional level meetings with the administration in this regard but to no effect," he said.
"So we will continue the agitation programme until our demands are met," he added.
Routes in the districts to come within the purview of transport strike are Khulna, Satkhira, Bagerhat, Pirojpur, Barisal and Gopalganj.
The indefinite transport strike caused untold sufferings to the people as hundreds of passengers were found stranded at different bus stoppages of Khulna city and Rupsha area of the district.
Rickshaws and three-wheeler vans were used for transportation of consumer goods.
Our correspondent in Barisal reports: Bus services with Bagerhat and Khulna districts were disrupted because of the strike since yesterday morning.
According to Dipak Das, executive member of Barisal Bus Owners' Association and Sultan Mahmud, secretary, Barisal Motor Sramik Union, bus and other motorised vehicles were plying normally in other inner and inter-district routes other than those two routes.
Bagerhat DC Akram Hossain told UNB that efforts are on to sit with the transport owners and workers union leaders to withdraw the strike.
He said steps have been taken to stop plying of such illegal vehicles and mobile courts are active in this regard on various roads and highways.
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