Leaders and activists of Airport police station unit of Awami League (AL) and its front organi sations yesterday took control of the cab service counters at Zia International Airport after driving out the three lessees of Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh (CAAB).

They locked the rooms of the three firms— BMTransport, Green Bangla and Baba Auto Gas and took the possession of those offices claiming that they have obtained a ruling of the court recently in favour of them as it stayed operating the counters by the firms.

On Saturday, some Juba League activists swooped on Sramik League men at the airport to take control of the car park there, leaving three people injured.

Meanwhile, passengers at the airport are facing sufferings while trying to travel to their destinations as they couldn’t get any cab from inside the terminal following shutting down the counters inside it, sources at the airport said. Besides, brokers are irritating the passengers while trying to hire a cab. •

Abul Hossain of Brahmanbaria district who arrived at the airport at 11:30am yesterday from Dubai toIdThe Daily Star that he didn't feel secured when he came out of the main terminal with his luggage as a number of brokers were irritating him for hiring a car.

Owner of the three firms claimed that they are the workers of Awami Sramik League, labour front of AL. but Sheikh Fazlul Haque Nannu, Sramik League Airport police station unit president, rejected their claims.

Officer-in-Charge of the police station Khan Mohammad Sirajul Islam said they couldn't take any action against those who locked the lessees' offices as they are yet to get permission from the CAAB. But he said they were trying to arrest those who swooped on the Sramik League workers at the airport on Saturday.

Meanwhile, those who grabbed the counters outside the terminal are now operating both Terminal-1 and Terminal-2.

The 'grabbers' claimed that the CAAB has collected Tk 5,000 for each of 450 cabs of the fourteen firms owned by them but the authorities later called a tender for giving the lease ignoring those who have deposited the money.

The three firms, owned by Sramik League leaders and workers, took up lease on the parking counters about a year ago for three years.

Nurul Islam, chief security officer of CAAB said the lessees' office remained closed yesterday as they didn't come here. If they want, the CAAB will hand over their offices.

He refuted that they arc yet to receive any copy from the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court. If the CAAB chairman gives directives after receiving the copy, he will act as per the direction.

BM lYansport, Green Bangla and Baba Auto Gas won the bid last year, but the previous holders, a consortium of 14 firms owned mainly by Jubo Leaguers, filed a writ petition alleging irregularities in the tender. Recently, they obtained the court ruling in their favour.