Harassment by lawmen upsets silk weavers

Human chain, rally at C'nawabganj

31 August 2009, 17:00 PM

Our Correspondent, C'nawabganj

Silk weavers bring out a procession in Chapainawabganj town yesterday demanding end to harassment of traders by law enforcers.Photo: STAR

Chapainwabganj District Silk Weavers Association yesterday formed a human chain, brought out a procession and submitted memorandum to the minister for textile and jute through the deputy commissioner (DC) protesting harassment by some members of law enforcement agencies. They alleged that a section of police and security personnel harass the silk cloth traders while leaving for capital or elsewhere to sell their products despite producing necessary papers of authorities concerned. The security personnel often harass the traders at Chapainawabganj Mohanada Bridge toll plaza and Sultanganj check post of Rajshahi. Police also regularly harass them at Belpukur check post and in different areas of Natore district in the name of searching for illegal Indian clothes, they alleged. They urged the government and the local administration to stop this harassment and save their traditional silk business. The processionists paraded main streets of the town and formed a human chain and held a rally in front of the DC office before submitting the memorandum. Abdus Salam, president of District Silk Weavers Association, its general secretery Subodh Chandra Das, members Nikhil Chandra Das and Tridev Chandra Das spoke at the rally.