Transport owners, workers, CNG auto-rickshaw drivers and local people continued their demonstration on the south side of Buriganga Bridge-1 on Sunday protesting toll hike for using it.
The transport workers blockaded nearly two-kilometre of the highway at Ekuria under Keraniganj upazila in Dhaka since Saturday morning that continued until filing of the report at 7:30 pm on Sunday.
This halted vehicular movements from the capital to different southern districts. Hundreds of vehicles -- passenger buses, goods-laden trucks and private cars -- remained stranded on both sides of the bridge - at Postogola and Keraniganj.
Thousands of passengers were compelled to walk for crossing the bridge to reach their respective destinations, facing immense physical and mental sufferings.
"The transport owners, workers and CNG auto-rickshaw drivers continued their programme," officer in-charge of South Keraniganj Police Station Monirul Islam told the FE on Sunday.
He, however, said they have deployed over one hundred police personnel there to avert any untoward situation.
The transport owners, workers and CNG auto-rickshaw drivers gave a 72-hour ultimatum to the government on Saturday for stopping toll collection from Buriganga Bridge-1. They threatened to launch a tougher movement, if the demand is not met.
On July 25, they also laid siege to the bridge demanding stopping of collection of increased toll. Later, they withdrew the siege, following a meeting between transport representatives and the government officials.
The Ministry of Road Transport and Bridges decided to raise toll on the bridge in January, and fixed July 24 for implementing the decision.
The ministry also suggested to bring other transports, like - rickshaws, vans, motorcycles and CNG three-wheelers, under the purview of toll collection.
At present, buses, trucks and trailer trucks have to pay tolls ranging from Tk 20 to Tk 40 for using the bridge for one time.
A transport worker leader said normally toll collection from a bridge is stopped after ten years of its inception.
He said toll collection from other bridges on the river Buriganga has been stopped since 2004.
Buriganga Bridge-1 or Bangladesh-China Friendship Bridge-1, which is widely known as Postogola Bridge, was built in 1988.
talhabinhabib@yahoo.com
