Owners and workers of goods transport in Sylhet have extended their ongoing strike from 48 to 72 hours, to press home their five-point demands.
The decision was announced on Sunday by Sylhet District Truck Workers’ Union President Md Dilu Mia.
The strike, which began on Saturday, initially caused little disruption to daily life.
However, the escalation signals growing frustration among transport workers over what they describe as unresolved issues.
While the union has withdrawn its initial demand for the removal of the Sylhet Deputy Commissioner, other key demands remain – permission to resume stone extraction from all quarries in Sylhet, an end to administrative crackdowns on stone-crushing machinery, stopping the seizure of trucks used for transporting stones, cessation of harassment and abuse of truck drivers, an end to alleged mistreatment of workers at the Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA) office.
Vendors dealing in perishable items – particularly fruits and vegetables – reported losses due to delays in reaching some destinations.
“We’ve consistently raised these five demands,” said Union President Dilu Mia. “If they are not addressed, we will launch tougher programs and may once again demand the Deputy Commissioner’s removal. That’s why we’ve extended the strike to 72 hours.”
Earlier, trade bodies including the Sylhet Stone-Related Business Owners and Workers Unity Council organized hunger strikes, sit-ins, and press briefings in support of the same demands.
As of Sunday evening, no official response had been issued by local authorities.
