CHATTOGRAM, Jan 13: A 48-hour strike called by the transport workers' federation in greater Chattogram in protest against 'assault' on one of their leaders by a ruling party lawmaker has been withdrawn.
Leaders of the Chattogram regional committee of Bangladesh Sarak Paribahan Sramik Federation announced withdrawal of the strike at a press conference held at Chattogram Press Club following a fruitful meeting with deputy commissioner (DC) of Chattogram Md Ilyas Hossain on Sunday.
The DC said the transport workers called the strike from 6:00 am on Monday in five districts under greater Chattogram. "I called a meeting today and both sides of the transport workers announced withdrawal of the strike."
He said there was a misunderstanding between the two groups of workers and owners of the transport workers' federation. One group called the strike alleging that a ruling party lawmaker assaulted a workers' leader over control of route No 8, he added.
It was alleged that Didarul Alam, MP, called Oli Ahmed, secretary of the Chattogram regional committee of Sramik Federation, to his residence and asked him to hand over control of human haulers plying the route no 8. As they regretted the ruling party lawmaker assaulted Khorshed Alam, one of the transport owners, on January 10.
Protesting against the assault, a section of them called the transport strike in greater Chattogram that includes Chattogram, Cox's Bazar, Rangamati, Bandarban and Khagrachhari.
At the press conference, member secretary of Greater Chittagong Sarak Paribahan Sarmik Oikya Parishad Ujjal Biswas said the strike was called off.
He also demanded punishment to a section of the transport owners who called the strike illegally, violating section 21 of the federation's constitution.
Regarding the assault by Didarul Alam, MP, he said it was absolutely false. Actually, the transport workers and owners went to Didarul's house to congratulate him on his election victory, he said.
The newly elected lawmaker asked the transport owners to reduce the fare because they enhanced it illegally, causing sufferings to commuters.
The owners said 265 minibuses are plying the route but the workers are taking Tk 380 from each bus as extortion. So, they recently enhanced the fare, they claimed.
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