Transport owners in Sylhet on strike from Tuesday, Brahmanbaria from Wednesday

The Sylhet District Road Transport Workers Coordinating Council has called for an indefinite strike in the district from Tuesday and across the entire Sylhet division from Wednesday to press for a five-point demand. Transport workers in Brahmanbaria have also called for a strike from Wednesday.

Joint General Secretary of Sylhet District Bus Minibus Coach Microbus Workers Union, Ali Akbar Rajan, made the announcement to the media on Monday evening (12 September).

He said, "All public transportation in Sylhet, including buses, CNG-powered auto rickshaws, and freight trucks, will stay off the roads from 6am onwards.

"The transport workers of Brahmanbaria also expressed solidarity with the movement and called for a strike from Wednesday."

He also claimed that no private vehicles are being stopped and no one is being forced to do anything.

The demands of the Sylhet District Road Transport Workers Coordinating Council consisting of six registered organisations include - Removal of the Sylhet Metropolitan Police (SMP) commissioner and deputy commissioner (traffic); excessive fines and harassment by traffic police should be stopped; Nazmul Alam Romen, who is gaining influence using the name of Sramik League, must be withdrawn from the representative of Labour Court in Sylhet; reopening of stone quarries; dilapidated roads should be repaired quickly; and stopping the sale of new CNG-run auto-rickshaws and the vehicles which have been sold should be registered while the movement of illegal vehicles should be stopped.

Ali Akbar Rajan said, "On 5 September, we submitted our five-point demand to the home minister and sent out copies of the memorandum to all sectors of Sylhet administration concerned. As no initiative has been taken to meet those demands yet, we were compelled to embark upon this movement."

Sylhet city at a standstill

The transport workers strike has almost paralysed Sylhet as all modes of traffic have stopped operation. 

The workers have taken positions with sticks at the entrance of Sylhet city and its various intersections since Tuesday morning. 

They are reportedly blocking the movement of private vehicles, trucks, and BRTC buses. Vehicles are being obstructed to ply on the roads due to their picketing.

Layek Ahmed, a passenger, said the transport workers stationed at the entrance of the Sylhet city stopped their bus at Abdus Samad Azad Square area. "I have no objection to the strike, but why would they obstruct the movement of government vehicles?"

Saimum Hossain, a banker, complaining about the obstruction of vehicle movement said, "I am not a transport worker. I drive out to go to my office and kid's school. Why is my car being stopped?"

However, denying such allegations, General Secretary of Sylhet District Road Transport Workers Coordination Council Zakaria Ahmad said, "Many drivers are entering Sylhet having no knowledge regarding the strike. The workers have taken positions at the intersections in order to inform them."