Bus strike on two roads protesting extortion
Bus services on Harirampur-Manikganj-Dhaka and Harirampur-Singair-Dhaka routes came to a halt yesterday morning as the owners and workers enforced an indefinite strike protesting illegal toll collection.
District Bus-Minibus Owners' Association and District Sarak Paribahan Sramik Union jointly gave the strike call on the two important roads.
As many as 125 buses ply the two roads everyday, but suspension of their services is causing untold sufferings to the commuters.
District Bus-Minibus Owners' Association President Kazi Enayet Hossain Tipu and Sarak Paribahan Sramik Union President Babul Sarker yesterday told this correspondent that two groups backed by Harirampur Upazila Parishad Chairman Dewan Saidur Rahman have been taking Tk 30 from each bus for each trip for the last seven days.
Foyez Uddin-- Safayet Hossain group collects illegal toll from the buses at Jhitka bus stand while Alal Hossain--Lipu group at Harirampur bus stand, they said.
“We informed the officer in-charge (OC) of Harirampur Police Station about the matter several times, but to no effect,” the two leaders alleged.
The bus strike on the two roads will continue until illegal toll collection is stopped, they added.
Contacted, Foyez Uddin said they take Tk 30 from each bus for maintenance of the bus terminal. Toll collection by Alal-Lipu group at Harirampur bus stand is illegal, he added.
Refuting the allegation, Alal said they collect toll in the name of Sramik Union, which has authorised them to do the job.
OC Shawkat Ali of Harirampur Police Station said bus services on the roads have been stopped due to a conflict between two groups of transport workers over control of the two bus stands.
Manikganj district administrator Golam Mohiuddin has taken an initiative to resolve the problem. He will hold a meeting with Bus-Minibus Owners' Associations President Kazi Enayet Hossain Tipu, Sarak Paribahan Sramik Union president Babul Sarker in his office tonight.
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