Transport workers block Dhaka-Bogra highway

Transport workers block the road at Charmatha intersection in Bogra town for two hours from 10:30am yesterday protesting the beating up of a Bogra-based transport worker at Bypail in Dhaka and alleged rampant extortion by police. PHOTO: FOCUS BANGLA

Traffic movement on Dhaka-Bogra highway was disrupted for two hours yesterday as transport workers put up road barricade in protest against what they said extortion by police.
A long tailback was created on the highway due to the blockade, causing untold sufferings to the Eid holidaymakers returning to their workplace.
Transport workers said they put up barricades on Bogra-Dhaka, Bogra-Rangpur roads around 10:30 am, protesting harassment of workers and illegal toll collection by policemen.
They alleged that police at Ashulia PS recently realised over Tk 1 lakh as toll from 34 vehicles of Bogra and took one of the vehicles to police station when it refused to pay toll.
Traffic movement on the highway returned to normalcy around 12:30 pm when the transport workers removed the barricade following assurance by Police Superintendent Mozammal Haque of taking action against the responsible policemen.