Driver killed in clash at Gabtali, transport strike continues

A driver was killed in a clash between law enforcers and transport workers at Gabtali in Dhaka on Wednesday morning, the second day of the wildcat transport strike enforced by Bangladesh Sarak Paribahan Sramik Federation.

The deceased was identified as Shah Alam, of Rajbari, a driver of Baishakhi Paribahan, said his co-worker Rahman.

He received bullet-wounds during the clash and was taken to Selina Hospital in Mirpur area where he succumbed to his injuries.

It was not confirmed immediately whether the bullet was fired by law enforcers or not.

The clash took place in the morning resulting from an intense situation when police and Rapid Action Battalion took position in Gabtali area to avert any untoward situation.

Transport workers also took to the streets since Wednesday morning in support of their strike.

The law enforcers fired rubber bullets and teargas shells at the workers to disperse them while the agitating workers pelted brickbats.

Tense situation were prevailing in the area.

No inter-district bus left Gabtali, Mohakhali or Sayedabad bus terminals in Dhaka in the morning while very few buses were seen plying the city streets, reports United News of Bangladesh.

The commuters, especially the SSC examinees, suffered badly in the morning for lack of adequate public transports.

They alleged that rickshaws and CNG-run auto-rickshaw drivers charged them excessive fares, taking advantage of the situation.

In Gazipur, at least five people were injured in a clash between the commuters and transport workers at Station Road in Tongi in the morning.

The injured commuters and witnesses alleged a group transport workers locked into an altercation with them as they were waiting for vehicles, triggering the fight that left at least five commuters injured.

Besides, transport workers, split into several groups, vandalised several vehicles, including a picnic bus and private cars at several points of the district.

In Chuadanga, transport workers brought out a procession in the morning and took position at the entry points of the district.

Most SSC examinees had to reach their respective exam centers on foot as all modes of vehicles, including CNG-run and battery-run auto-rickshaws, stayed off the road due to the strike.

Bangladesh Sarak Paribahan Sramik Federation went on the strike on Tuesday morning protesting court verdicts that sentenced a driver to death for killing eminent filmmaker Tareque Masud and media peronality Mishuk Munier in a road crash and another to life imprisonment in a case filed over a road accident in Savar in 2003.

Khandaker Enayet Ullah, secretary general of the federation, said they will continue the strike until the government takes any step to ensure ‘justice’ to their fellowmen.

Source: New Age