Around four hundred transport workers on Tuesday staged demonstrations on Dhaka-Aricha highway in Savar demanding immediate stoppage of extortion in transport sector, quick resumption of public transports and relief assistance for transport workers amid the countrywide lockdown.
However, the demonstrators moved back from the highway after getting assurance from police and the public transport owners about looking into their demands. Demonstrators alleged they remained jobless for last one month, but they did not get any relief assistance from any quarter. Under such a situation, they are facing extreme hardships along with their family members.
The transport workers said that they have been forced to come out of their homes for immediate stoppage of extortion from the transport workers in the name of the so-called welfare fund and relief, resumption of public transports and getting relief assistance. Sohrab Hossain, chairman of a public transport company- Savar Paribahan, said "The workers staged demonstrations to press home their three-point demands, including immediate resumption of public transports. They left the highway after discussion with them."
Pavel Mollah, Sub-inspector of Savar model police station said, "Actually the transport workers staged demonstrations for not getting any assistance amid this coronavirus scare." "Transport owners should stand beside the workers in this ongoing crisis. However, the demonstrators moved back from the road after getting assurance from the transport owners", he added.