Tempo owners foil minibus service

27 August 2009, 17:00 PM

Our Correspondent, Barisal

Barisal city minibus service was disrupted two hours into its inauguration as tempo owners, drivers and workers protesting introduction of the service went on the rampage yesterday. They damaged four minibuses near BM College, autorickshaws and office of the Autorickshaw Owners' Association at steamer ghat. Initiated by Barisal City Corporation (BCC), Mayor Shawkat Hossain Hiron formally opened the bus service at Eidgah Maidan at 11:00 am. Police brought the situation under control and arrested seven agitating tempo owners and drivers. The arrestees are Salam, Noman, Halim, Nasir, Muhammad Ali, Lutfor and Kamal. Tempo Owners and Workers Association, led by Shahjahan Howlader, district Sramik League vice president and president of Tempo Sramik union, brought out a procession in the city protesting introduction of city minibus service. The tempo owners and drivers also called an indefinite tempo strike in the city. Kamal Hossain, secretary of Tempo Workers Association, said the tempo strike will continue until city minibus service is cancelled. BCC Mayor Shawkat Hossain Hiron told The Daily Star that the city minibus service will continue despite protest by the tempo owners and drivers. He urged the law enforcers to ensure smooth city bus service and take action against the troublemakers. A tense situation was prevailing in the city as of filing of this report at 6:30pm yesterday.