Truckers’ blockade for the second day on eight entry points of the
district protesting an attack on them by locals brought public life to
a standstill on Saturday.
Witnesses said Sylhet District Truck Workers Union (SDTWU) started the
blockade programme on eight entry points, including Dhaka-Sylhet
Highway, Sylhet-Tamabil Road and Pirer Bazar Road, at 9.00pm on Friday
protesting an attack on them by locals, which left their about 46
trucks damaged.
First, hundreds of truckers blocked the main entry route Humaiun
Rashid Square of the district by placing their vehicles
haphazardly,creating immense tailback there.
Due to the blockade, thousands of vehicles were seen stranded on the
Dhaka-Sylhet Highway from the city to Telibazar of Dakkhin Surma
upazila.
In this regard, SDTWU president Abul Kaher Iju said a good number of
vehicles were damaged in the attack by locals and they would not move
away the trucks from the road until the attackers are brought to book.
Nasir Uddin Ahmed, officer-in-charge (OC) of Dakkhin Surma Police
Station, quoting the truckers said they would not lift the blockade
until their demands are met.
They tried their best to move away the trucks, but in vain, added the OC.
Mentionably, locals vandalised at least 46 trucks at different points
of the city on Friday night, protesting entry of trucks into the city
before 10.00pm.
The vandalism erupted from an accident when a CNG-run auto-rickshaw
passenger was crushed to death under the wheels of a truck in
Pathantula of the city on Wednesday night.
Later, local people blocked several roads protesting the incident and
demanded the local administration take steps not to allow trucks to
enter the city before 10.00pm.
As the trucks started entering the city again on Friday evening, the
angry city dwellers vandalised 46 trucks on the Sylhet-Sunamganj Road.
(Our Correspondent)
