Storm of Protest in Rajshahi

People attack private buses, demand BRTC services

3 September 2009, 17:00 PM

Staff Correspondent, Rajshahi

Locals damage a private bus at Charghat yesterday in protest against stoppage of BRTC bus service on Rajshahi-Charghat-Bagha route. Photo: STAR

At least 25 people were injured as local people and students clashed with bus operators and police at Charghat upazila headquarters yesterday demanding resumption of BRTC bus services on Rajshahi-Charghat-Bagha route. They stopped movement of private buses on the route protesting withdrawal of BRTC buses from the route. The district administration in a meeting with private transport owners on Wednesday decided to stop BRTC service on Rajshahi-Charghat-Bagha route. The angry people also ransacked local office of Bus Workers Union, damaged upazila Nirbahi officer's vehicle and a private bus during demonstration at Charghat Bazar. At around 11:00am, a group of bus workers ransacked 15 shops at the bazar as the shop owners kept their shutters down expressing solidarity with the agitators. The bazar area turned into a battlefield at around 1:00pm when the protesters and bus workers, equipped with lethal weapons, chased each other. As police came to the spot reportedly for aiding the bus workers, the protesters hurled brickbats at them. Police fired teargas shells, dispersed the angry locals bus workers and brought the situation under control. Sources said at least 25 people from both sides received injuries during scuffles. The protesters damaged the vehicle of UNO Moinul Islam Ansari when he went at Charghat intersection to pacify them. They then took control of the local stand and damaged a private bus there. Upazila Awami League General Secretary Raihanul Haque went to the scene at around 3:00pm and demanded resumption of BRTC bus service on Rajshahi-Charghat-Bagha route within the next 24 hours. He said local people will launch a greater movement if the BRTC service is not restored on the route within the deadline. Meanwhile, Private bus owners and workers in Chapainawabganj began an indefinite strike yesterday to press their demand for stopping BRTC bus service on different routes in the district. Sources said Motor Sramik Union and Bus Owners' Association jointly enforced the strike at 6:00am, disrupting road communication between Chapainawabganj and Rajshahi. They demanded immediate withdrawal of double-decker BRTC buses from Chapainwabganj. Tajul Islam, general secretary of Chapainawabganj Bus Owners' Association said the strike will continue until their demand for stopping BRTC services in the district is met.