Transport sector counts Tk 700m loss for hartals

Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader informed the Jatiya Sangsad (JS) Monday the road transport sector counted a financial loss of approximate Tk 700 million (Tk 70 crore) until February 3 due to hartal and blockade programmes enforced by the BNP-led 20-party alliance, reports BSS.

Responding to a question from treasury bench member Nurunnabi Chowdhury (Bhola-3), the Minister said as many as 325 vehicles were torched and 500 others vandalised in the private sector from January 5 to February 3 this year.

Mr Quader said the state-run Bangladesh Road Transport Corpo-ration (BRTC) incurred a total loss of Tk 164,466,900 due to these hartals and blockades.

Of the amount, he said, the loss due to arson attacks is Tk 7,736,300, vandalism Tk 467,500 and the revenue loss is Tk 164,466,900.