Transport strike in Thakurgaon

Transport owners and workers went on an indefinite strike on four routes of the district yesterday morning, demanding a ban on plying of unauthorised vehicles.

Commuters in the district underwent untold sufferings due to the strike.  

The reason for enforcing the strike was local administration's alleged failure to stop plying of human haulers like diesel-run three wheelers, Nasimon, Karimon and battery-driven easy bike on the busy roads and highways. 

The transport leaders said plying of these unauthorised vehicles were increasing on the roads every day, posing risks of accidents and inflicting huge financial losses to the bus owners.

The transport owners and workers also demanded immediate end to production of these engine-run vehicles and battery run rickshaws.    

On the other hand, Indrojeet Guha Thakurata, president of the Thakurgaon Three-wheeler Owners' Association, told this correspondent that they would continue plying of vehicles as per a circular of the Ministry of Communications issued on 11 September, 2011.

According to the decision of the 20th meeting of Bangladesh Road Security Council, the circular allowed the diesel-run three-wheelers to ply the roads except for highways, he added.

Meanwhile four people were injured in a clash between the transport workers and three-wheeler drivers in the town yesterday afternoon.

Police arrested four leaders and activists of Thakurgaon Transport Workers' Union after the clash.

They are treasurer of the union Bulu Mohonta, member Delwar Hossain, Md Alam and Golam Mostafa.    

Police and local sources said, three wheeler and easy bike drivers occupied the four routes-- Thakurgaon-Pirganj, Thakurgaon-Baliadangi, Thakurgaon-Ruhea and Pirganj-Ranishankoil-Haripur during the strike which sparked the clash.