Three cases have been filed in connection with the clash involving transport workers, police and Sylhet City Corporation (SCC) staffers during an eviction of illegal microbus and private car stands on Wednesday in Chauhatta area of Sylhet city.
Of the cases filed with the Sylhet Kotwali police station last night, two were filed by police and another by the SCC against 28 named and more than 100 unnamed transport workers.
Confirming the matter to Dhaka Tribune, Sylhet Kotwali police station Officer-in-Charge (OC) SM Abu Farhad said: “One of the cases was filed by Sub-Inspector (SI) Mustafizur Rahman under the Arms Act against Faisal Ahmed Fahad, the Liberation War affairs secretary of Swechchhasebak League's Sylhet city unit, who was detained with firearms in his possession during Wednesday’s clash. Faisal, the lone accused in this case, has been sent to jail following a court order on Thursday.”
“Besides, SI Abdul Mannan filed another case against 17 named and 100-150 unnamed transport workers for attacking and assaulting police during the eviction drive.”
Additionally, in the case filed by the SCC, the city corporation's Sub-Assistant Engineer Debabrata Das accused 10 named and 100-150 unnamed individuals for obstructing city officials and workers from carrying out their duties.
Contacted, local transport leader Abul Hossain said preparations were going on to file a separate case on behalf of the transport workers against SCC Mayor Ariful Haque Chowdhury and others over Wednesday’s clash.
Till the filing of this report, Sylhet Kotwali police station had not received any complaints or any cases filed by transport workers in this regard, said OC SM Abu Farhad.
Earlier on Wednesday noon, SCC Mayor Ariful Haque Choudhury, officials and employees of the city corporation among 10 others were attacked during the eviction.
Police then brought the situation under control by firing 16 rounds of blank shots. One person, Faisal Ahmed Fahad, has been arrested over the incident.
According to SCC sources, the Chauhatta-Amberkhana road is being renovated where microbus and private car workers had been setting up illegal stands for a long time.
The workers had occupied most of the sidewalks and roads in the Chauhatta-Dargah area of this road. Hundreds of cars are parked here every day, blocking traffic movement.
The SCC evicted this illegal stand last Saturday. The campaign, led by the mayor, was opposed by transport workers. He later ordered them to leave the sidewalks and roads within three days.
