No supply of sand, stone, coal from 3 Sylhet UZs for 24 hrs

The supplies will be stopped for an indefinite period if the demand is not met, people's representatives announced at several rallies in the region.

The 17 Pargana Shalish Samannaya Committee, a people's forum including political leaders, enforced the suspension as its 72-hour ultimatum for resumption of BRTC (Bangladesh Road Transport Corporation) bus service in the region ended on January 8, unheeded by the authorities.

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The Committee is set to announce a fresh action programme today at a rally at Jaintapur upazila headquarters.

BRTC service, introduced in the region on September 10 last year, was abruptly terminated on January 3.

Though hundreds of trucks gathered on Friday at different quarries in the region to transport sand and stone to other areas, workers refrained from collecting and loading those.

Loading of coal imported from India through the Tamabil border also remained suspended.

Processions were also brought out and rallies held at different commercial centres in the region including Jaflong, Mamardokan, Tamabil, Sarighat, Darbast, Chatulbazar, Darbast-Haripur, Chiknagul and Lafnaut Bazaar to drum up support for the demand.

Speakers at the rallies said the authorities betrayed with the people by suddenly stopping the service, inaugurated by the communications minister.

Leaders of different political parties including ruling BNP and opposition Awami League, Union Parishad chairmen and former chairmen addressed the rallies.

Sirajuddin Ahmed, convenor of the committee, was the chief guest at the main rally at Jaintapur upazila headquarter.

The people of the region have been boycotting private bus and minibus services in the three upazilas since October 13, alleging that authorities stopped BRTC service following pressure by their owners.

BRTC service was stopped after a week of its September 10 introduction, but resumed after some days at the intervention of Finance Minister Saifur Rahman.

In the early hours of January 3, the authorities withdrew BRTC buses from its temporary shed to Shlhet under police protection, which fuelled the agitation.