Rajshahi District Representative: Common people are in a state of confusion due to the suspension of long-distance bus services in Rajshahi. Today Friday (December 02) tickets were not found at Bhadra Bus Station and Shiroil Bus Terminal and Railway Station in the city. Ansar members working at the station did not even allow them to sit on the platform of the station due to lack of tickets.
A passenger who came to buy tickets at the station told this reporter, “The family is worried about me. Everyone is calling again and again. But quite worried as the bus service is stopped and train tickets are not available. I do not understand how to return to Dhaka.
The Departmental Transport Owners-Labour Union has called an indefinite strike in Rajshahi division on the 10-point demand. As a result, all types of traffic have been stopped since Thursday morning. Common people are suffering. No vehicle can be found in Rajshahi city even after waiting for a long time. Autorickshaw movement is less than other days. Autorickshaw drivers are also not going outside the city. Sometimes one or two autorickshaws go outside the city but charge extra fare.
BNP will hold a departmental mass meeting tomorrow (December 03) at Madrasa ground in Rajshahi city. But before this, Transport Owners Association has called a transport strike in eight districts of Rajshahi division from Thursday with 10-point demands. BNP leaders and activists claim that the transport strike has been called on the orders of the government so that the leaders and activists cannot come to the rally.
The autorickshaw drivers of Rajshahi city say that there are less passengers in the city today compared to other days. Because the police are not allowing passengers to enter the entrances of Rajshahi. As a result their income has decreased. Because of this, they are charging more rent to compensate.
An autorickshaw driver resident of Katakhali told this reporter, “People are coming in cars till Katakhali, but the police are not allowing them to enter.” Cars are not coming to the city from outside, so there is no fare. Two-one is being rented within the city. Earlier, the income was 200 to 250 taka per hour. Today, 80 rupees have been earned in one hour.
Another autorickshaw driver said, “There is no problem in going out of Rajshahi with the car. However, the police are blocking the way back to the city. Police are stopping vehicles at Belpukur, Baneswar, Kashiadanga and Amchattar, the city’s entrances. Passengers are getting off the car and asking various questions. ‘There are fewer passengers in the city. As a result, I am going to Natore with passengers from here. I will not come today. I will drive there. I will stay there till the end of the BNP rally.
Additional police have been deployed at various intersections of the city to prevent any untoward incident around the BNP rally. Motorcyclists and common people are being stopped and questioned.
In this regard, Boalia police said, “The patrol has been increased so that no one can create anarchy around the gathering.”
BNP leaders alleged that the transport strike was called to prevent Saturday’s mass rally. Not only that, the police are searching the cars on the way even if the activists come from different districts by alternative transport. Cars are being impounded on the road and sent back.
Meanwhile, one of BNP Chairperson’s advisers, Mizanur Rahman Minu, said, “Leaders and activists are coming to Rajshahi from eight districts of Rajshahi division by alternative transport. No matter how hard the government tries, the masses will come down. Ignoring hundreds of obstacles, BNP leaders and activists are coming to Rajshahi from Wednesday night. To thwart the public rally on December 03 tomorrow, the police filed a case against some overzealous activists and activists. Hundreds of cases have been filed so far across the department. Even then, Rajshahi will have the largest public gathering in the country. At least 15 lakh activists will join.
