Several hundred members of four local transport workers’ organisations blockaded the Rangpur-Dhaka highway in Polashbari upazila town area yesterday demanding the release of its four leaders arrested in a case.
Due to the blockade programme, hundreds of vehicles got stuck on both sides of the highway, creating immense suffering to the commuters in the muggy weather.
Sources at the district said about 800 members Polashbari Motor Workers’ Union, Gaibandha District Motor Workers’ Union, District Truck-Trunk-Lorry Workers’ Union and Gobindoganj Motor Workers Union brought out a procession from the upazila around 10:30am demanding the immediate release of the leaders and paraded major thoroughfares.
Later, the workers put a blockade on the highway around 11:15am and held a rally there, from which they also demanded re-investigation of the case and threatened to go for robust movement unless their demands are met within seven days.
However, the workers moved away from the spot after half an hour without any interference of law enforcers.
On March 30, police arrested the leaders - Suruj Haque Milton, Ibrahim Khalil Mithu, Faridul Haque Rubel and Moshrefur Rahman Ripon – in a case filed on charge of killing schoolboy Plabon, 17, of the upazila in 2005.
In the case, 14 people, including the leaders, were made accused.
