Drugstore owners of the port city yesterday enforced a strike keeping their businesses shut demanding release of their fellows.
The businessmen under the banner of the Bangladesh Chemists and Druggists Association enforced the strike from morning to 12 noon.
A mobile court led by Executive Magistrate Ruhul Amin came under an attack on KC Dey Road adjacent to Hazari Lane under Kotwali police station on November 24.
The mobile court also fined two errant drugstores with Tk10,000 and seized two cartons of medicines meant for physician samples during the drive.
Infuriated by the mobile court, several hundred traders all on a sudden started hurling brickbats targeting the mobile court. A chase and counter-chase took place between traders and Ansar members of the mobile court. On information, a team of the police rushed to the spot and brought the situation under control after charging baton on traders.
Following the attack, the police arrested 12 people on charge of attacking police personnel. A case was lodged against 212 people with Kotwali police station on November 25.
Later, a Chittagong court sent 12 traders to jail.
SK Shikder, president of Chittagong chapter of Bangladesh Chemists and Druggists Association, told the Dhaka Tribune that they did not have any objection over mobile court’s drive against errant drugstore owners.
“However, the administration is harassing drug traders in the name of conducting mobile courts. The Ansar members of the mobile court on that day seized some legal medicines along with illegal ones. We are enforcing the strike protesting arrest of our 12 men,” he added.
