Transport workers go on strike in Ctg, Rangpur
Transport workers are enforcing a strike in Chattogram and Rangpur protesting the death of a bus driver.
A 24-hour-long strike started in Chattogram from 6:00pm yesterday while all the eight districts in Rangpur division would face an indefinite strike from 6:00am today.
Meanwhile, a murder case was filed with Karnaphuli Police Station against 10 to 12 unidentified persons in connection with the driver’s death.
On Tuesday, a bus driver was beaten to death by a group of people who claimed to be detectives in Patiya upazila of Chattogram.
The victim’s brother filed the case yesterday, Md Alamgir, officer-in-charge of Karnaphuli Police Station, said.
“We have talked to locals and are trying to gather information,” he added.
Meanwhile, Jahedul Islam, assistant commissioner (Karnaphuli zone), told The Daily Star, “The case will be investigated by Counter Terrorism Unit of Chattogram Metropolitan Police as it is sensitive.”
The dead, Jalaluddin, 55, was a driver of a Shyamoli Paribahan NR Travels bus, said Azim Uddin, supervisor of the bus and also witness of the incident.
The incident took place between Shantir Hat and Shikalbaha areas on Chattogram-Cox’s Bazar highway around 11:45pm.
“A group of eight to 10 people, introducing themselves as DB men, intercepted the bus. They were not wearing any uniforms or jackets but were carrying firearms,” claimed Azim.
The bus was heading towards Gazipur’s Chandra from Cox’s Bazar via Chattogram.
He said they started to search the vehicle and at one point, handcuffed Jalal saying he was smuggling yaba, and then took him off the bus and started beating him.
“After 10 to 12 minutes, they brought him inside and asked where the pills were,” Azim added.
Jalal was taken out, beaten again and left unconscious after he denied the allegation of smuggling drugs, Azim further alleged.
Jalal died at Chittagong Medical College Hospital.
The detective branches of both the district police and Chattogram Metropolitan Police (CMP) denied the allegation, claiming no drive was carried out in Patiya.
Officials of CMP and district police have already visited the spot.
Seeking anonymity, a police official, who visited the spot, told The Daily Star yesterday, “Police have talked to several persons and collected CCTV footage from the toll plaza of Shah Amanat Bridge in Karnaphuli area.
“Police have found presence of law enforcement agency personnel in the area,” added the official.
“In CCTV footage, five vehicles including a car and two SUVs of a law enforcement agency were seen to cross the toll plaza after the incident,” the official added.
CTG DC MEETS TRANSPORT WORKERS
Abdul Mannan, general secretary of Ponno Paribahan Malik Federation, said they attended a meeting with Chattogram’s deputy commissioner at Circuit House in the evening.
The meeting did not produce any result, he said, adding, “We will go for another 24-hour strike on Sunday if our demands are not met,” he said.
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