2nd day of 48-hr transport strike begins in 21 southwestern dists

A 48-hour transport strike, enforced by the transport owners and workers in 21  southwestern districts under Khulna and Barisal divisions and greater Faridpur demanding withdrawal of two compensation cases for road accidents, is underway peacefully for second day on Monday.

Among the two compensation suits, one was filed over the death of filmmaker Tareque Masud, cinematographer and media personality Ashfaque Munier Mishuk and three others in a fatal road accident in 2011, reports UNB.

Road communications between southwestern and northern region remain halted due to the strike as no long distance buses or other vehicles were seen plying the roads of districts.

Khulna Division Road Transport Owners-Workers’ Unity Council announced the programme at a press briefing at Jessore Press Club on Saturday morning.

The Council demanded for the withdrawal of the two cases — one filed against owner and driver of Chuadanga ‘Deluxe Paribahan’ for a Tk 12 crore compensation over an accident on Dhaka-Aricha highway that killed five people, including Tareque Masud and Mishuk Munier, and the other against ‘Green Line Paribahan’ for a Tk 7 crore compensation over another accident.

The Council also demanded proper investigation into the two incidents.

Earlier on May 8, transport owners and workers of 10 southern districts in Khulna division threatened to enforce a 48-hour strike for May 15 and 16.  

Later, the regional committees of Bangladesh Road Transport Workers Federation in Barisal division and greater Faridpur joined the strike.

Greater Faridpur unit of the Federation declared to stop plying of vehicles in the region from a press briefing at the district Press Club auditorium on Saturday.