Indefinite transport strike in Satkhira, Pabna
Ban on illegal human haulers and removal of roadside markets demanded
Transport workers in Satkhira and Pabna districts went on an indefinite strike yesterday.
In Satkhira, they enforced the strike on eight routes of the district, demanding a ban on plying of unauthorised human haulers on the highways.
Saiful Karim Sabu, president of the district Bus-Minibus Owners' Association, told UNB that they called the nonstop strike as the local administration failed to stop plying of human haulers like Nasimon, Karimon and battery-driven easy bike on the busy roads and highways.
He also said the transport workers were compelled to go on strike from the morning as the authorities concerned, after repeated assurance, failed to meet their demand.
The transport strike caused untold sufferings to the Dhaka, Jessore and Khulna bound passengers as all buses and mini-buses remained off the road.
In Pabna, the transport workers went on an indefinite strike yesterday morning, demanding removal of all makeshift markets from the highway.
The strike followed assault of drivers and workers of some Dhaka bound coaches at roadside Ataikula market at about 9am yesterday, reports our correspondent.
Officer in-charge at Ataikula police station Robiul Hassan Sarkar said, a Dhaka bound coach remained stranded at Ataikula market yesterday as the road was jam-packed with jute traders. Following an altercation with bus workers, the traders and buyers barricaded the Dhaka bound coaches on the road and also beat up some drivers of the vehicles.
Police rescued the drivers from the agitated people.
Protesting the attacks on transport workers, Pabna district unit of transport workers association called the indefinite transport strike on all routes of Pabna from morning.
Firoz Khan, president of the association, said they would continue the strike till the roadside markets are removed by the authorities.
Meanwhile, the transport owners and workers associations jointly gave an ultimatum to the district administration yesterday to ban all unauthorised vehicles on the highway and to punish the attackers of the transport workers by next Wednesday.
Drivers suffer while passing by the roadside markets. Traders and buyers occupy and crowd the road hampering traffic movement, said the transport leaders.
On the other hand the human haulers like Nasimon, Karimon are unauthorised, they said.
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