Tension has been prevailing between the two factions of transport owners' groups centring taking control of the transport sector after one of the rival factions called a 48-hour transport strike on March 28.

Meanwhile, protesting the strike a faction of Manikganj District Bus-Minibus-Microbus-Auto-Tempo Owners Group yesterday formed a human chain in the town.

Members of several transport owners and labourers organisations took part at the rally at Manikganj Bus Stand on Dhaka-Aricha highway.

District Awami League Labour Affairs Secretary Liakat Ali Bhandari, District Bus-Minibus-Microbus-Auto-Tempo Owners Group President Zahidul Islam Zahid and District Sramik League Organising Secretary Abdul Jalil, addressed among others.

The speakers at the rally said they would foil the strike on March 28 and also demanded arrest of transport leader Babul Sarkar, the man behind all kinds of extortion.

According to a press release signed by Mujib Sarwar Masum and Aman Ullah, convenor and member secretary of another faction Gabtoli (Dhaka) Paribahan Malik O Sramik Oikya Parishad respectively, some influential people forcibly occupied Manikganj Central Bus Terminal on October 10 last year and drove away the legal members of the owners' group.