Prolonged blockade leaves over 16,000 transport workers jobless in Rajshahi

RAJSHAHI, Feb 3: More than 16,000 transport workers of Rajshahi region remained jobless for more than a month due to uninterrupted blockade and hartals sponsored by opposition BNP and Jamaat.
 Failing to join their works, those labourers including the drivers and helpers of buses and trucks, line masters, booking clerks, filling station managers and helpers were spending days with unbearable misery with their family members.
 It is learnt, due to uninterrupted blockade and frequent hartals, the road communication to and from Rajshahi remained isolated for over a month. Though some trucks, tank lorries and covered vans are moving under police-RAB and BGB vigilance, movement of almost all inter-district and local buses, minibuses, microbuses remained suspended.
 Due to absence of job at the transport sector, many drivers and helpers are being forced to work as drivers of battery operated auto-rickshaws or as peddlers of rickshaws or even as day labourers. But, due to blockade and hartals, there were not sufficient passengers on autos and no works at city areas. As a result, they were leading an inhuman life.
Azim (35), a driver of Kasiadanaga area of the city used to ply bus on Rajshahi-Chapainawabganj route. He informed, since after the starting of the blockade, movement of buses on the route remained suspended. As a result, he along with his conductor and the helper remained jobless. And, as they work on 'no work-no pay' basis, they are not getting any salary from their employer.
Rahmatullah (42), a lineman, helped to assist passengers to carry luggage on buses at Rajshahi central bus terminal. He said, after a days work, he used to earn around Tk300 everyday. But, due to stoppage of bus services, he was nearly starving with his four-member family.
 Mokhlesur Rahman is a driver of a truck. He informed, due to blockade and hartal, the owner of his truck did not take risk to move that on road. As a result, he and the helper were starving without any work.
 Kamal Hossain Roby, President of Rajshahi Motor Shramik Union said, the condition of transport labourers was extremely pitiable due to blockade and hartals. He requested the opposition party leaders to withdraw blockade and hartals and thus to save lives of hundreds of starving people.  
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