Transport strike called off

Uttarbanga Transport Owners and Workers Oikya Parishad yesterday called off their strike in 16 northern districts.

Demand Implementation Committee Convener Abdul Mannan Akand said they decided to withdraw the work abstention after a meeting with the district administration. The administration assured them of fulfilling their seven-point demand, Mannan said.

Additional Deputy Commissioner (General) of Bogra Raihana Islam said the transport leaders decided to withdraw the strike after a meeting with them. Raihana said they would hold another meeting in the evening and inform the higher authorities regarding their demands.

The Oikya Parishad called a 48-hour strike in 16 northern districts from 6:00am on May 21 at a press conference in Bogra Press Club on May 13 and on May 22 the parishad extended it till 6:00am of May 24 to realise their seven-point demand.

The demands include end to police harassment in the highways and extortion in weight scaling centres, stoppage of plying of illegal vehicles, end to harassment during the renewal of driving license and ensuring easy system for getting new driving license.

Such unusual transport strike of goods carrying vehicles including trucks, lorries, covered vans and pickups  increased sufferings and caused huge loss to farmers, traders and people of other professions in the areas. It also hampered supply and trading of agricultural products in the markets.