Undeclared transport strike in Mymensingh

Staff Reporter :
The BNP has alleged that an “undeclared” transportation strike began in Mymensingh division ahead of the BNP’s fabulous rally on Saturday.
BNP Organizing Secretary Syed Imran Saleh Prince told journalists that suspensions of vehicular movement were arranged by the
 authorities to prevent the BNP supporters from joining the rally on Saturday afternoon on the premises of Polytechnic Institute in Mymensingh.
Prince said party activists from different districts, including Jamalpur, Sherpur, Netrakona and Kishoreganj, faced sufferings joining the rally as bus services have remained suspended on inter-district routes at the behest of the government since morning.
The party leaders and activists walked to the rally on foot, by motorcycles, private cars, three-wheelers and other smaller vehicles. Many private vehicles that were hired earlier to come to Mymensingh suddenly declined to carry our people, giving an excuse of safety, the BNP leader told journalists.
Many of the party leaders and activists joined the rally in Mymensingh city using trawlers and boats as movement of buses around Mymensingh district was restricted.
As part of the BNP’s planned divisional rallies, the party’s Mymensingh city unit arranged the rally that began at 2pm. It is the party’s second divisional rally; the first one was held in Chattogram on October 12.
Meanwhile, several leaders of Mymensingh District Motor Owners Association, said that the vehicle owners stopped the transport service on safety grounds as many vehicles were vandalized during the BNP’s rally in Chattogram.
Masum Ahmed Bhuyan, Superintendent of Mymensingh police, said they took adequate security measures to maintain law and order and fend off any untoward incidents.
The BNP on September 27, announced to hold rallies in 10 cities, to protest against the ongoing power crisis, unusual price hikes in daily essentials, demanding party chief Begum Khaleda Zia’s release and the killing of five of the party activists in police firing in Bhola, Narayanganj, Munshiganj and Jashore during anti-government protests by the party.
The party will conclude the divisional rallies through a huge gathering in Dhaka city on December 10.