25 injured as transport workers clash
At least 25 people were injured as two rival groups of Gopalganj Motor Workers' Union clashed in the town yesterday over collecting toll from buses plying long routes.
Police and witnesses said the trouble began at around 9:45am when transport workers led by former union president Bulbul Islam protested toll collection from long route buses by their rival group led by incumbent president Saidur Rahman Basu at police Lines point.
At one stage, the two groups equipped with wooden sticks and sharp weapons attacked each others, leaving at least 25 workers from both sides injured.
Of the injured, four were admitted to Gopalganj General Hospital while the rest given first aid at different private clinics. Police fired tear-gas canisters and rubber bullets to disperse the clashing groups. They also arrested two motor workers named Mehedi Hasan, 15, and Chhoton, 26, with sharp weapons.
Former union president Bulbul Islam alleged that Basu group are involved in illegal toll collection from long route buses in the name of Motor Workers' Union. They collect
Tk 90 from each bus, he added.
Refuting the allegation, incumbent union president Saidur Rahman Basu said they collect money from long route buses for motor workers' welfare fund. The decision to raise the fund for workers' welfare was taken at a recently held joint meeting of the Motor Workers' Union and local administration.
Zakir Hossain Molla, officer in-charge of Gopalganj Police Station, law enforcers have been deployed in the area to avert any further incident.
For all latest news, follow The Daily Star's Google News channel.
Comments