The Greater Chittagong Gana Paribahan Malik-Sramik Oikya Parishad has called for a 48-hour transport strike following an incident of vandalism and arson resulting in the tragic deaths of two Chittagong University of Engineering and Technology (Cuet) students by a bus.
The strike, scheduled to commence at 6am on Sunday, was announced after an emergency meeting held at the organization’s office on Saturday, said Mohammad Musa, member secretary of Greater Chittagong Gana Paribahan Malik-Sramik Oikya Parishad.
According to the decision made at the meeting, the movement of buses, minibuses, human haulers, autorickshaws, and auto-tempos will cease in Chittagong district, metropolis, Cox’s Bazar, and three hill districts from 6am on Sunday until 6am on Tuesday
No long-distance buses will be allowed to enter or leave these districts, employers and workers have been urged to support the strike.
Mrinal Chowdhury, president of the Purbanchol Sarak Paribahan Sramik Federation, an organization affiliated with Oikya Parishad, said that the federation called for a 24-hour strike to protest the Rapid Action Battalion’s (RAB) mass arrest of transport workers, including waybill checkers and linemen, who had been reporting incidents of extortion for some time.
Additionally, Oikya Parishad convened an emergency meeting on Saturday afternoon to address the situation arising from the Cuet incident, deciding to initiate a 48-hour transport strike to push for four demands.
These demands include taking legal action regarding the vandalism of 4-5 vehicles and the burning of three buses, compensation for the victims, the arrest of those involved, and an investigation into whether the motorcycle carrying the three Cuet students was registered, whether the driver had a valid license, and whether there was any violation of the law in regard to three people riding a motorcycle simultaneously and potential drug involvement.
Mrinal Chowdhury said: “We are also deeply saddened by the loss of two Cuet students. A probe committee has been established to examine various aspects of the incident, including the status of the bus driver, the vehicle’s condition, and whether the driver was drunk or not.
“Furthermore, the Bus Owners Association has pledged Tk500,000 to each of the bereaved families and Tk300,000 to the injured students. However, Cuet students staged a road blockade for four days, causing damage to several vehicles and setting three buses on fire,Ó he added.
He also said that despite attempts by the injured party to file a case, the police did not accept it, compelling Oikya Parishad to call for a 48-hour transport strike in response to the situation
