Truck drivers and workers blocked Rangpur-Bogra highway yesterday demanding repair of infrastructure of a local truck stand.

Road communications with Rangpur and four other northern districts remained snapped for one hour from 12: 00 noon. About two thousand vehicles got stranded while police played the role of silent spectators, witnesses said.

President of Rangpur Truck Workers Association Manik Miah claimed that Rangpur municipality authorities leased the bus stand. “They take money for it but never bother for its repair,” he said.

Despite frequent request the municipality mayor did not take any initiative to repair the truck stand, Manik said.

Contacted, Rangpur municipality mayor Abdur Rouf said it was a dirty trick by a leader of Rangpur Motor Vehicle Owners Association.

“Having failed to take lease of the truck stand at Tk 4,00,000 for next one year, he instigated the truck workers to stage road blockade,” he said.

"Last year Rangpur municipality leased the truck stand at Tk 12,00,000. This year Moshiur Rahman Ranga wanted to take lease of the truck stand at only Tk4,00,000. He and his men did not let others to participate in the

bid. Therefore, we cancelled the bid and decided to call fresh bid. That's why Ranga became angry and told the truck workers to block road," the mayor said.

But Moshiur Rahman denied his involvement with road blockade programme. There is no connection between the bid and truck workers demonstration, he said.

"As secretary of Rangpur Motor Vehicle Owners Association, I must say the demand of truck workers is justified," Ranga said.

He said mayor Abdur Rouf has no right to charge lease money as the municipality does 'nothing' for the truck stand.