Transport workers of battery-run three-wheelers staged a demonstration on Friday protesting extortion on the Comilla-Sylhet Highway.
The protesters blocked the highway in the Swadhinata Chattar area creating a long tailback on both sides of the road.
Al Amin, general secretary of Debidwar municipality unit of Sramik League, led the demonstration.
They alleged that a clique had been extorting three-wheeler workers on the highway for a long time.
Each vehicle has to pay Tk100 to Tk150 every day. The workers are often verbally abused and beaten up by the extortionists, the leaders allege.
They said that this harassment must come to an end, otherwise a tougher program would be announced.
Arifur Rahman, officer-in-charge (OC) of Debidwar police station, assured the protesters that the issue would be discussed with higher authorities.