Vehicles go off Jessore, Narail roads as strike continues
Seven buses, trucks vandalised, passengers' sufferings mount
A locally made three-wheeler carries passengers on Narail-Jessore road in Narail Sadar upazila yesterday, the second day of the indefinite strike enforced by bus owners' and workers' associations demanding immediate steps for repair of the rundown roads in the two districts. Photo: STAR
Transport owners and workers of Jessore and Narail districts continued their strike for the second day yesterday. At least seven vehicles were vandalised on the road in front of Jessore Government City College yesterday and the day before. Jessore and Narail District Bus Owners' Association and Bangladesh Paribahan Sangstha Sramik Samity jointly enforced an indefinite transport on Jessore-Narail route on Monday demanding immediate repair of the damaged roads in the two districts, reports UNB. Our correspondents from Benapole and Narail reported that transport owners and workers staged demonstrations in Jessore and Narail towns and in other parts of the districts yesterday and on Monday to press for their demand. President of Jessore Bus owners' Association Md Ali Akbar said it is not at all be possible to resume transport services until roads of the two districts are repaired. We have been compelled to call the strike for an indefinite period getting response neither from the Road & Highway Department (RHD) nor from the deputy commissioner of Jessore despite several reminders in writing, he said. President of Jessore Transport Workers' Association Azizul Alam Mintu said the strike will continue until the demand is met. “We called off strike several times earlier on request from RHD officials and the deputy commissioner who had assured us of meeting our demand for renovation of the damaged road, but they failed to act upon their commitment.” Transport owners associations of Jessore and Narail had earlier staged demonstration in support of the demand and submitted a memo to the ministry concerned, but to no effect, Mintu added. Transport workers alleged roads and highways in the two districts have become dilapidated and the department concerned is not taking any step to repair the damaged roads despite repeated reminders. The strike has mounted sufferings to the commuters, especially the long route bus passengers of southeastern districts who use the route to travel to and from the capital.
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