Transport worker dies in clashes with police

Ittefaq Report

A transport worker died after workers clashed with police during a demonstration over the Buriganga bridge toll on Friday.

The deceased was identified as 28-year-old Sohel, a driver of a smaller passenger vehicle, locally known as Mahendra.

The workers demanded resetting the toll rate for the Bangladesh-China Friendship Bridge in Postagola on the outskirts of Dhaka.

Agitated workers gathered in the area on Friday morning to protest about the high toll rates. Police intervened and a clash broke out.

The police rushed to the scene when agitated transport workers began their demonstration on Friday morning. At one point, clashes erupted between the police and workers.

According to the witnesses, Sohel died after police opened fire on the protesters as the demonstration turned violent.

The workers were protesting near the bridge in Keraniganj. Police initially fired rubber bullets to disperse them.

Traffic remained suspended on the bridge due to the clash.

Back in 2015, the union of auto drivers had blocked the bridge for 3 days to demand reduction of toll on the Buriganga river structure.