Transport strike in Meherpur

Transport owners and workers in Meherpur yesterday enforced an indefinite transport strike demanding ban on Easy Bike, a battery run carrier.
The strike is a sequel to Monday's clash between bus workers and Easy Bike owners in Judge Court area in Meherpur town.
Meanwhile, local administration imposed Section 144 on gathering at Sahid Shamsuzzoha Park in the town as both groups called a meeting there. Transports in all routes in Meherpur remained off the road since morning.
Plying of all modes of vehicles came to a halt at first on Monday night as the Easy Bike owners and workers called for an indefinite transport strike on all routes in the district from Tuesday.
The strike was called off the next day following a request of district administration. The district administration called a meeting with both the groups.
A meeting was held at the deputy commissioner's (DC) conference room at night.
“We were forced to go on strike as the meeting failed,” Zohrul Islam, president of transport owners association in Meherpur said.
The owners demanded ban of service by Easy Bikes on highways outside the town. But the Easy Bike owners disagreed and called a symaltaneous meeting at Sahid Samsuzzoha Park at 4:00pm today.
According to police, the clash took place on Monday after some Easy Bikes were taking passengers parking on the main road in Judge Court area at about 2:30 pm.
The bus drivers on the road protested. At one stage, some Easy Bike owners beat up a worker of a bus. Within moments, the two groups locked in severe clashes in the town areas.
The bus workers ransacked around 40 Easy Bikes, while their rivals vandalised at least 10 buses.