8-hour hartal in Sylhet city today

The programme was announced at a brief rally, held at the Sylhet City Point after a token hunger strike yesterday. Different organisations including those of transport workers and owners also expressed solidarity with the hartal call.

The Parishasd held at least 30 rallies at different places in last two days, where speakers said tougher action programmes will be announced if the hanging bridge project is not included in the upcoming budget.

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They said a hanging bridge project was approved twice at ECNEC meetings and tenders were also floated and soil tests done.

But the project was dropped later for mysterious reasons, creating resentment among people of the region.

Recently, the authorities adopted a 'new tactic to bluff the people in the name of renovation of the existing bridge', they said.

It is just an eyewash, which is not acceptable to people, they said.

In last two years, the Parishad observed different programmes including hartals to press the demand. The government then announced that a hanging bridge would be constructed over the Surma.

The Finance Minister and the Communication Minister on different occasions last year announced that work on a hanging bridge project would be started soon. Even a date was also fixed for formal foundation laying by the Prime minister, they said.

Recently, the Roads & Highways (R & H) authorities started renovation of the old bridge at a cost of Tk 3 Crore. This sparked agitation.