Staff Reporter :
The ongoing transport strike in the country’s northern districts, which was kicked off Sunday morning by the North Bengal Truck, Tank Lorry, Covered Van and Pick-up Owners-Workers Association, has been extended till 6:00am Wednesday.
Sources in the trader’s community said that supply of different kind of vegetables and other perishable goods to the capital has been reduced due to the strike and it will create an adverse impact on the kitchen markets if the strike continues few more days.
Transport leaders said that they have called the transport strike demanding immediate realization of their seven-point demand, including stopping harassment and extortion by the policemen, withdrawal of government order to remove bumper, side angle and hook.
When contacted, convener of the strike committee of North Bengal Truck, Tank Lorry, Covered Van and Pick-up Owners-Employees Association Abdul Mannan Akhand yesterday evening said that the transport strike would continue till Wednesday morning.
“The 48-hour strike has been enforced demanding immediate realization of workers’ demands. But seeing no initiatives from the government side, the time is extended for next 24 hours. If the government won’t realize our demands by the time, we’ll go for indefinite strike after Eid-ul-Fitr,” he said.
On the other hand, Superintendent of Police of Bogra Md Asaduzzaman said: “We’ve had a fruitful meeting with the strike committee leaders. There will be a reasonable solution after holding discussion with divisional level leaders and government officials.”
Reports coming from different northern districts said that hundreds of goods-laden vehicles, including trucks, pickups and covered vans carrying perishable goods, were forced to stand idle on the roadside resulting in counting of huge demurrage.
Agitated picketers equipped with bamboo sticks and iron rods were patrolling the streets at different entry and exit points of northern cities to stop the plying of vehicles till the time of filing this report yesterday afternoon.
As a result, severe traffic congestions were created at Mohasthan, Baghopara, Matidali, Banani, Shakpala, Sherpur Majhira and some other spots.
Several thousand passengers also suffered a lot as passenger-carrying buses could not move due to the traffic jam.
A limited number of trucks and covered vans were seen plying under police protection in a bid to keep continuing the goods supply chain.
Some wholesale traders said the impact of the strike will be seen in the wholesale kitchen market as supply chain is curtailed by the strike. Usually, about 100 vegetable-carrying trucks come to Dhaka everyday from Mahasthan alone, but now it is stopped.
Significantly, the price of kitchen items has been reduced in the local markets of the northern districts. The traders fear that their kitchen items will be perished, if the supply remains stopped for the next few days.
Meanwhile, the leaders of the association alleged that the police have been extorting money from the truck drivers on the highways for a long time, even if the driving licenses and registration documents were found okay. The policemen file false cases and harass the drivers and owners, if the money is not given as per their demand.
There is widespread allegation that extortion in the transport sector has taken an alarming turn despite several measures taken by the law enforcement and intelligence agencies. Not only on the busy roads and highways, the extortionists are also very much active in the terminals and ferry ghats.
Mainly, the vehicles without route permit and other necessary documents have become main target for extortion and bribery of the police. Several drivers have alleged that the police collect money from cargo laden trucks at different points on the highways, particularly at Bangabandhu Multipurpose Bridge at Sirajganj.
