Owners of road transports damaged in political violence are yet to get any compensation in Barisal.
Leaders of Bus and Truck Owners Associations in Nathullabad and Rupatali Central Terminals made the claim.
Aftab Hossain, president of Nathullabad Bus Owners’ Association, said: “Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Wednesday handed over cheques as financial assistance to the bus, truck and other vehicle owners who were affected in the ongoing hartal and blockade programmes enforced by the BNP- led 20-party alliance.”
Kawsar Hossain Shipon, secretary of Rupatali Bus Owners’ Association said the premier distributed the cheques for Tk 4,20,65,000 to 146 owners of the 156 vehicles in the first phase at her Tejgaon office in Dhaka.
However, road transport owners of Barisal were not included in that list, they said.
The leaders informed that at least 35 road transports on different routes have been damaged so far in the recent political violence that started on January 5.
At least six people were killed and more than 50 injured in those incidents. Many of the victims became physically and mentally unstable, they added.
Wali Muhammad Khan, owner of Abdullah Paribahan, said blockade supporters torched his bus Dhaka Metro- Ba-14-78183 on the Dhaka-Kuakata route leaving six people injured on January 21.
“Police estimated a damage of Tk60 lakh in the incident but I am yet to receive any kind of compensation from any source,” said Wali.
However, Barisal Metropolitan Police Commissioner Shobol Kanti Chowdhury said they had not received any direction from the higher authority yet to assess the loss of road transports in political violence.
