Passenger and freight transport strike in Bangladesh enters second day

A nationwide indefinite strike by transport workers protesting the sentencing of two drivers in road crashes has entered the second day.

Long-haul buses did not leave the terminals in capital Dhaka on Wednesday.

City service buses are also not plying leaving travellers, especially office-goers and SSC examinees, stranded.

Many have resorted to travelling on rickshaws, three-wheeler vans and even pick-up trucks. Many others were seen walking to their destinations.

Transport workers took to the streets when a Manikganj court sentenced a bus driver to life in prison for a 2011 accident that left celebrated filmmaker Tareque Masud, ATN News CEO Mishuk Munier and three others dead.

Workers in Chuadanga first started a strike. Those in 10 districts of Khulna division joined them on Sunday.

The authorities negotiated with the striking workers in Khulna on Sunday and announced that they had agreed to withdraw the strike.

But later the workers, agitated by another verdict sentencing a truck driver to death for running over and killing a woman in Savar, denied any such agreement on withdrawing the strike.

Earlier on Monday night, the transport owners held a meeting with the workers in Dhaka.

On Tuesday, the strike spread across the country.

The government has asked the transport workers to respect the court verdicts and heed the sufferings of travellers, but so far, there is no sign of let-up.

The truck drivers' union have announced to continue with the strike until the two drivers are released.

Late on Tuesday, at least four people, including three policemen, have been injured in clashes at Dhaka's Gabtoli.

Running battles erupted between police and transport workers on the street from Technical intersection to Gabtoli.

Police fired teargas in response to arson by the workers, who also pelted them with brickbats.

Clashes once again erupted on Wednesday morning around the Gabtoli inter-district bus terminal when police chased away strikers vandalising vehicles, a Dhaka-based TV channel reported.

Local police OC Md Selimuzzaman told bdnews24.com,"The situation is now a bit calm, but no vehicles are plying in the area."