Some pro-government transport workers will hold a daylong hunger strike today in protest against the ongoing BNP-led country-wide blockades.
“The hunger strike will run from 10 am to 4pm. Several transport workers will join us for the programme,” Bangladesh Sarak Paribahan Sramik League secretary Insur Ali told the Dhaka Tribune yesterday evening.
It will be held of the National Press Club in the capital.
“We demand BNP chairperson Kaleda Zia be brought to justice” Insur added.
He said: “If Khaleda does not withdraw the blockade, we will have to take tough measures, in protest against the terror created in the city, the petrol bomb attacks, vandalism, arson attacks on buses, and other forms of sabotage in the name of blockade.”
The BNP-led 20 party alliance has enforced non-stop nationwide blockades since January 5, which has resulted in the deaths and grievious injury of many citizens from arson attacks, petrol bombs, and vandalism of vehicles.
This has also caused enormous loss and suffering for many transport operators in the country – either through personal injury or loss of transport.
On Thursday, several pro-Awami League labour organisations gave the BNP chairperson a two-day ultimatum to lift the ongoing non-stop blockade. On the same day, transport workers were barred by the police from laying siege to Khaleda Zia’s Gulshan office.
At around 11am on Thursday, several labour organisations including Bangladesh Sarak Paribahan Sramik League, Motor Drivers Sramik League, Bangladesh Garments Workers Coordination Council along with Muktijuddho Projonmo League, gathered at the Gulshan 2 intersection for their march towards Khaleda’s office.
However, the police stopped them near North Road, following which the protesters staged a sit-in at the Gulshan 2 intersection and organised a brief rally.
At the rally, they threatened to go on a hunger strike in front of the National Press Club unless the blockade is lifted.
