A dispute between transport owners and labour organisations triggered counter road blockades on major highways in Gaibandha’s Palashbari upazila on Tuesday, leaving more than 100 vehicles stranded and causing severe suffering to passengers.
Transport labour organisations first blocked the Dhaka-Rangpur highway at Charmatha in Palashbari around 4pm and brought out a protest procession. They withdrew the blockade after police assured them of addressing their demands.
Later, leaders and activists of the Bus and Minibus Owners’ Association enforced a road blockade at Tinmatha on the Gaibandha-Palashbari road from 4:30pm to 5:30pm, demanding an immediate end to what they described as extortion in the name of different labour organisations.
The hour-long blockade halted traffic on the route, leaving over 100 small and large vehicles stranded on both sides of the road and causing hardship for commuters.
After receiving information about the blockade, Palashbari Assistant Commissioner (Land) Al-Yasa Rahman Tapadar and Palashbari Police Station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Sarwar Alam Khan reached the spot.
The transport owners withdrew the blockade after the officials assured them that the dispute would be resolved.
Robiul Islam Liyakat, vice-president of the Bus and Minibus Owners’ Association, alleged that extortion was being collected in the name of labour organisations by stopping vehicles at different points on roads, including the Gaibandha-Palashbari route.
He claimed that Tk200 to Tk300 was collected from each vehicle and vehicles were detained if owners refused to pay. He added that transport operators were already facing financial pressure due to a decline in business.
Confirming the incidents, OC Sarwar Alam Khan said the blockades were the result of a dispute between transport owners and workers.
He said both sides had been asked to appear at the police station at 8:00pm with relevant documents to resolve the matter.
