Jessore-Narail transport strike enters 2nd day

BENAPOLE, Dec 27 (UNB): At least seven vehicles were vandalized as indefinite transport strike in Jessore and Narail districts entered into second day Tuesday. Jessore and Narail District Bus Owners Association and Bangladesh Paribahan Sangstha Sramik Samity jointly called the strike on Sunday to press for their various demands including repairing dilapidated roads and highways in the two districts. Witnesses said transport owners and workers demonstrated in the street in Jessore town as well as other parts of Jessore and Narail Monday and Tuesday morning. They intercepted seven vehicles, including trucks and microbuses, which were passing Jessore Govt City College area and vandalized those. Transport owners and workers, including bus owners, are enforcing strike in this important route since 6 am Monday morning. Azizul Alam Mintu, president of Bangladesh Paribahan Sangstha Sramik Samity said the strike will continue unless their demands are met. Transport workers union leaders of the two districts said they had no alternative to enforce indefinite strike as concerned authorities did not pay heeds to their demands despite several attempts to draw their attention to their various problems, including fast decaying roads which have been hitting transport business hard. The strike has caused sufferings to the commuters, especially long route bus passengers of south-eastern districts who use the route to travel to and from capital.