Two more cases filed over Gabtoli clashes, 1,300 accused

Police have started two more cases over the clashes and death of a transport worker in Gabtoli implicating 1,300 people.

Three other cases were filed earlier.

Darus Salam Police Station SI Nawsher Ali Bhuiyan told bdnews24.com that SI Masud Mia lodged a case over the clashes and vandalism during the nationwide strike by transport workers.

He named 33 people in the case while 400 to 500 unnamed others were also accused.

“The second case has been filed by SI Elite Mahmud over the death of a transport worker accusing 700 to 800 people,” Nawsher said.

Out of the five cases, police are the complainants in four cases while the other case was initiated by a woman who is a resident of Mohammadpur.

In the first three cases, a total of over 1,200 people including 46 leaders and workers of inter-district truck drivers’ union stand accused.

An unannounced nationwide strike protesting against the conviction of two drivers kicked off early on Tuesday. The same night, transport workers at Dhaka's Gabtali bus terminal clashed with police leaving four, including three law enforcers, injured.

Fresh clashes erupted the next morning when transport workers blocked the road near the Gabtoli underpass.

Running battles continued between police and protestors on the road from the southern end of Aminbazar Bridge to the entrance of the Mazar Road near the Gabtoli terminal.

Transport workers damaged several vehicles, including those of police and media during the clash. One of the workers injured in the clash later died at the Dhaka Medical College Hospital.