Fresh agitation for BRTC service in 3 Sylhet UZs

The programme includes rallies at Kanaighat upazila headquarters on January 13, at Jaintaur on January 14 and at Gowainghat on January 16. People will lay a siege to the three upazila headquarters on January 17. A 'tougher' programme will be announced at a rally at Jaintapur on January 18.

The 17 Parganas Shalish Samannaya Committee, a non-partisan people's forum, announced the programmes at the Jaintapur rally on Sunday.

Tap here to add The Daily Star as a trusted source

Speakers at the rally alleged that the finance and the communication ministers pushed them towards agitation and they will be responsible for any consequence.

The speakers said, the finance minister is a bright son of the region. BRTC service was introduced on September 10 at his initiative. Its withdrawal on pressure from private transport owners is unacceptable, they said.

If the service is not resumed, supply of tea, sand, stone, and coal imported from India through Tamabil will be stopped indefinitely.

Supply of sand, stones and coal from the three upazilas to the rest of the country including other areas of Sylhet remained suspended for 24 hours on January 7 at the call of the Committee.

Former Jaintapur Upazila chairman Siraj Uddin Ahmed, who is Convener of the Committee, chaired the rally.

It was addressed by, among others, Jaintapur Awami League President Md. Abdullah, BNP Secretary and former Union Parishad (UP) chairman Abdul Malik Manik, UP chairmen Mokhlisur Rahman Doula, Ekhlasur Rahman, Kamal Ahmed, Qudrat Ullah, ABM Zakaria, Golam Kibria Helal, Shahed Ahmed Babar,

Advocate Rafique Ahmed, Moulana Abul Hossain Chatuli, Moulana Muhibul Haque, former UP Chairman Luthfur Rahman Lebu, Abul Kalam Azad, Mashuk Ahmed and Baharul Alam.

People of the three upazilas are also boycotting private bus and minibus since October 13, alleging that they are behind withdrawal of BRTC service.