Export-import through Burimari land port could not take place on Monday and Tuesday due to transport strike enforced by district Motor Vehicle Owners' Association, depriving government of about Tk 50 lakh revenue.

The strike also caused untold sufferings to the travellers who came from India. After immigration formalities, they could not leave the port for their respective destinations as vehicles were off the roads.

Burimari land port customs official said the government had to incur about Tk 50 lakh loss in revenue as export-import through the land port remained halted due to the strike in the last two days.

The importers and exporters also faced heavy losses as truckers refused to carry their goods during the strike. Loading and unloading of goods were also suspended.

Importer Hamid Babu told this correspondent that he imported coal from India on Monday morning, but could not unload the coal from Indian truck due to

transport support.

District Motor Owners' Association enforced the strike protesting illegal toll collection by a section of people in the transport sector in the name of labour welfare. They also demanded immediate steps to stop extortion and harassment of transport workers.

Our Kurigran corresponded adds: Bus strike on Kurigram-Lalmonirhat road in the last two days caused immense sufferings to the passengers.

Kurigram Motor Owners' Association called the strike protesting illegal toll collection from buses in the name ofTruck Labourers' Union.

General Secretary of Motor Owners’ Association Lutfar Rahman said they informed the district administration of the illegal toll collection by a section of transport workers, but to no effect.

"We shall go for an indefinite strike if necessary measures are not taken to stop toll collection immediately, ” he said.

The association also condemned the April 17 incident between truck workers and owners.