Indefinite transport strike begins in 4 southern districts

BAGERHAT, May 22 (UNB): Inter-district transport owners' association and transport workers' union jointly started an indefinite strike on all routes in four southern districts of the country from Sunday morning demanding ban on plying of illegal vehicles like Nosiman and Korimon. As a result, bus services of 28 routes of Bagerhat, Pirojpur, Khulna and Jhalakathi remained suspended from 7am Sunday causing untold sufferings to the commuters. General Secretary of Bagerhat Inter-District Transport Owners' Association Khan Moniruzzaman told the news agency that they were demanding ban on plying of illegal vehicles such as Nosiman and Korimon - on different roads and highways since long. They said they also held divisional and district level meetings with the administration in this regard but the decision of banning the illegal vehicles is yet to be implemented properly. "So we have been compelled to call indefinite transport strike on 28 routes in four districts and we will continue our movement until our demand is fulfilled," he said. Bagerhat DC Akram Hossain told the news agency that efforts are on to sit with the transport owners and workers union leaders to settle the issue. He said steps have been taken to stop plying of such illegal vehicles and mobile courts are active in this regard on various roads and highways.