Transport strike in Narail, Patuakhali
Narail district transport owners and workers began an indefinite strike on all routes in the district yesterday demanding a ban on the services of shallow engine-driven Nosimon, Kariman, Bhutbhuti and battery-run Easy-Bikes on highways. Photo shows bus drivers and workers blocking Narail-Jessore Highway in the town, keeping vehicles haphazardly on the road.Photo: STAR
Transport owners and workers in Narail and Patuakhali went on strike on the internal routes of the districts yesterday. An indefinite strike on all local routes in Narail district began yesterday to realise the demand for removal of Nosimon, Kariman, Bhutbhuti and Easy Bikes from the highways, reports our correspondent. Transport services on Narail-Jessore highway and other roads of the district came to a halt following the strike. Sufferings of hundreds of commuters including government and non-government officials and staffs, students and traders mounted as they frantically looked for alternative means of transport. Narail bus-minibus owners' association secretary Md. Delowar Hossain said that they repeatedly urged to the local law enforces to remove Nosimon, Easy Bike, GSC Van (a diesel driven three-wheeler) from the highways but to no effect. As the owners of those illegal vehicles threatened to attack buses on Narail-Noapara highway, we had no alternative to stopping bus services on all local routes, he said. District Transport Workers Union president Jahangir Alom Biswas said the strike will continue till the illegal vehicles are removed from the highways. In Patuakhali, bus service on all eight internal routes of the district came to a halt since 11am yesterday protesting assault on three transport workers, reports our correspondent. Patuakhali Bus Owners Association and Sramik Union jointly gave an ultimatum for 24 hours to the authorities from 11am yesterday, demanding punishment to attackers. Golam Maula Dulu, secretary of District Bus Owners Association said, at about 9:30am three workers of Apurbo, a passengers bus on Patuakhali-Kuakata route, were attacked by a gang led by Mintu, counter in-charge of BRTC bus, in Kalapara town following a quarrel over passenger service. The attackers beat up Azad, 35, driver of the bus, and helpers Shamim, 30, and Badal, 25. Of them, Shamim was admitted to Patuakhali General Hospital. Protesting the matter, the bus owners and workers jointly took the decision to stop services on all 8 routes, he said. We also submitted a memorandum to the Deputy Commissioner (DC) to meet our demand immediately, otherwise, we will stop bus services on all these routes for indefinite period, Dulu said.
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