Shots fired at double-decker

An armed group of people fired several gunshots at a Jaintapur-bound double-decker of BRTC in the city's Shibganj area Sunday night, but no one was injured.

The hoodlums, however, ran away when the passengers chased them. A general diary has been lodged with the police.

Former upazila chairman and chief of 17 Pargana Shalish Samannaya Committee Sirajuddin Ahmed protested the incident and demanded an inquiry into the incident within 48 hours.

He also blamed the incident on the transport workers who have long been demonstrating against the BRTC service in three upazilas .

People Jaintapur, Kanaighat and Gowainghat upazilas have also been boycotting private bus and minibus service in protest against the activities of the transport workers.

To end the stalemate over BRTC service, leaders of different political parties are trying to bring the two sides to a negotiating table. A meeting between the leaders of transport associations and the leading people of the three upazilas is likely to be held within a few days.

But the latest incident has infuriated former upazila chairman Sirajuddin Ahmed who said he won't sit with the transport leaders across the table.

People of three upazilas would continue the boycott of bus until the permanent settlement of row over BRTC service, speakers at a rally said yesterday.

BRTC has introduced its service on Sylhet-Tamabil route temporarily, but the people demand that the service be made permanent.

The Brihattar Jainta Samannaya Samity, a forum of the people of 17 parganas of three upazilas, also pressed for the same demand.

At a public meeting at the Jaintapur upazila headquarters on Sunday evening, the forum decided to continue the boycott programme.

On the other hand, the transport operators have been demonstrating against the BRTC service.

At a rally last week, Executive president of the Bangladesh Sarak Paribahan Sramik Federation Shahjahan Khan MP gave an ultimatum to the government to withdraw the BRTC service in Sylhet by December 13.