The transport workers' strike that began in Bogra Wednesday morning was withdrawn at around 1pm.
The strike was called off after authorities assured that those involved in the attack on two leaders of the motor workers' union would be arrested within three days, confirmed by Syed Kabir Ahmed Mithu, general secretary of the Bogra Motor Workers' Union.
According to local sources, a dispute arose near Mitali Filling Station on Station Road in Bogra when coconut traders prevented CNG auto-rickshaws from parking in front of their shops, citing business disruptions.
In response, auto-rickshaw drivers called union leaders, leading to a confrontation that escalated into an attack on Anwar Hossain Rana and Hazrat Ali, two motor workers' union leaders, who were both seriously injured and admitted to Shaheed Ziaur Rahman Medical College Hospital, they added.
In protest against the attack, transport workers initially halted CNG auto-rickshaw operations on Wednesday morning.
Bogra Traffic Inspector (Administration) Salekuzzaman Khan said that the transport shutdown initially began with CNG auto-rickshaws and later expanded to all bus routes from Bogra.
"However, buses passing through Bogra from other districts continued operating."
He also mentioned that enraged transport workers set fire to a coconut trader’s shop, which was later extinguished by fire service personnel.
Additionally, army personnel arrived to disperse the protesters and bring the situation under control, he added.
Syed Kabir Ahmed Mithu, general secretary of the Bogra Motor Workers' Union, said that their two leaders were unjustly assaulted and severely injured.
In protest, transportation services were halted on Wednesday morning, demanding the arrest and proper trial of the attackers, he added.
Officer-in-Charge (OC) of Bogra Sadar police station SM Moinuddin confirmed that the situation was brought under control through the intervention of transport owners and labour leaders.
He also mentioned that one coconut trader Ratan was arrested on Tuesday night for his involvement in the attack.
However, as of Wednesday afternoon, no case had been filed regarding the incident, he added.
