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Indefinite transport strike cripples city life

By Staff Correspondent
City dwellers faced immense sufferings Saturday as buses, minibuses and tempos stayed off the roads because of an indefinite strike by the transport workers.
Thousands of passengers were stranded in the blazing heat of the day at different bus stations In the capital.
The first day of the transport strike passed off peacefully barring some stray Incidents.
The strike was called by the Transport Owners and Workers Action Committee in protest against the Saidabad clashes on Friday and to realise the five-point demands.
A group of BNP-backed workers had allegedly attacked and occupied the terminal Friday chasing out opponent groups. The clash left at least 40 supporters of both groups injured.
Action Committee sources said that the strike will be observed only in Dhaka till Monday and from Tuesday it will be observed nationwide.
Besides private vehicles, rickshaws and baby taxis were the only means of transportation during he strike.
The rickshaw pullers and the baby taxi drivers charged the passengers unreasonably high fares. The baby taxi fares were almost double the normal on the day.
Many office-goers were seen waiting by the roadside In the morning and after office hours for transports.
No inter-city and inter-district buses, minibuses and trucks left Saidabad. Mo-hakhall, Gabtoli and Fulbaria ' terminals while the movement of auto tempos was also subjected to blockades.
However, some tempos operated in the afternoon.
During the strike, some agitated transport workers set a minibus ablaze at Tikatult and damaged some other vehicles including two minibuses In different parts of the city. However. the leaders of striking workers denied the responsibility of the incidents saying that the group that forcibly occupied the Saidabad terminal was involved In the incidents
Organising Secretary of the Action Committee Osman All told The Dally Star that Friday's incident had occurred as the ruling party tried to establish its domination of the terminal with the help of one Belayet. who was expelled from Transport Workers Union earlier.
"Our organisation is a non-po lit lea I one but most of the ruling parties have tried to dominate us on different pleas which generated trouble In the country." he said adding. "We only struggle for our demands and we do not serve any political party"
Meanwhile, the Action Committee leaders held a meeting with the Communlca-Uon Minister Col (retd) OH Ahmed in his residence Saturday evening.
The meeting discussed the Saidabad incident and the situation arising out of the strike but failed to reach any agreement to resolve it as the lead
their five-point demands.
Their demands Include arrest and punishment of the culprits involved in the Saidabad incident, implementation of all the previous agreements with the transport workers and owners and release of transport union leaders.
According to the latest report, the armed group that occupied the terminal on Friday deserted it and the members of the law enforcing agencies took control of It.