Sufferings of passengers, traders mount
Sufferings of passengers, traders mount
Sufferings of commuters and passengers mounted as transport workers in the district continued their indefinite strike on the second-day yesterday on five routes of Rangpur, Lalmonirhat and Gaibandha.
Besides the inter-district passengers, the small traders in the districts fell victim to the strike as they incurred losses for failing to supply their perishable items to the district markets.
The district transport workers federation leaders enforced the strike on Monday morning protesting attacks, vandalism and torching of their branch office, pickup van owner's office and Patgram bus stand in Satmatha area in Rangpur city on Sunday night.
MA Majid, general secretary of the federation said, a gang backed by Rangpur Motor Owner's Association, earlier attacked and vandalised the federation's Rangpur district office at Rangpur Central Bus Terminal area on September 7.
During the attack, the gang also torched the private car of Majid and three motorcycles of the federation members.
Protesting the attack and demanding compensation, the federation called indefinite transport strikes on September 8 and 16.
Later they called off the strikes following assurance by the authorities concerned to take steps against the attackers and give compensation.
Majid said, as the authorities were yet to fulfil their demands, on Sunday noon they formed a human chain and held demonstration in front of Rangpur Press Club.
At this, the leaders of Rangpur Motor Owners Association became aggrieved, he said.
Around midnight, a gang backed by the association attacked Rangpur District Pick-up Van Owner's Office and Patgram bus stand in Satmatha area and vandalised five passenger buses.
Later, around 3:00am on Sunday, they set on fire the federation's branch office in the same area.
Meanwhile, president of Rangpur district Motor Owners' Association Abu Asgar Ahmed Pintu refuted the allegations.
Abdur Razzak, Superintendent of Police in Rangpur, said they were talking with the federation leaders and trying to resolve the problem as soon as possible.