Transport strike on in 8 dists of Rajshahi divn

Buses lie stranded at Shiroil bus stand in Rajshahi as the owners of buses and trucks and workers start an indefinite transport strike on all routes of eight districts under Rajshahi division yesterday to press home their six-point demand. PHOTO: STAR

Transport owners and workers went on an indefinite strike in eight districts of Rajshahi division yesterday to press home their six-point demand.
The strike, which began at 6:00am, caused immense sufferings to the thousands of passengers.
Due to the  sudden strike, the passengers were seen thronging Rajshahi railway station and BRTC bus stand in the city. However, a few hundreds could  manage to collect tickets.
The demands include ban on Nasimon, Karimon and BRTC buses plying highways and inter-district roads, end to extortion at the weight measuring station, cancellation of excess fee taken for tax token and fitness certificate by BRTA and withdrawal of false cases against motor labourers.
Earlier, on May 20, Rajshahi Bus-Truck Owner and Workers' Oikya Parishad observed a 29-hour token strike to realise the demands.
The following day, the transport owners and workers at a rally threatened to go on an indefinite strike if their demands were not met by Saturday, said Manjur Rahman Piter, convener of the parishad.
We would not go for any more talks until the demands were met, he said.