Agitated transport workers in Dinajpur have blocked the district’s Dashmail central truck terminal and adjacent roads, protesting the detention of two of their fellow workers.
They were detained over allegations of extortion and obnoxious comments made by Rais Uddin, officer-in-charge (OC) of Kaharol police station, about their organization.
As a result, movement of all types of public transport has remained suspended in the district.
According to Sadakatul Bari Sada, president of Dinajpur Truck-Lorry-Covered Van Workers’ Union, OC Rais Uddin detained two workers over allegations of extortion in Kaharol upazila.
“We went to the police station to talk to the OC. But instead of giving us time, the OC termed our registered organization as illegal. The aggrieved workers are protesting the detention and the remark made by the OC by blocking various roads since 5pm on Saturday,” said Sada.
However, OC Rais denied the allegations.
He said that police detained two workers for questioning over extortion at Kaharol cattle market.
“I didn’t term the union as illegal. Rather, I tried to talk to the leaders of the organization in the evening. I’m trying to mitigate the situation by talking with my high-ups,” Rais added.