The New Nation - Internet Edition

Our Correspondent, Barisal

At least 20 people were injured and several vehicles damaged in clashes between bus and tempo workers at Natun Bazaar Marokhola Tempo Stand on the outskirts of the city yesterday over opening of a bus route

Local commissioner and police sources said local bus owners made an attempt yesterday to ply bus from Barisal Natun Bazaar to Babuganj via Lakutia. But the tempo owners and workers opposed the operation of bus service on the route..

The tempo owners and workers objected when a bus was going from Barisal to Lakutia.

When the bus reached Lakutia local UP chairman Muhammad Hossain Sikdar advised bus driver to ply bus on the route after negotiation with tempo owners and workers to avoid trouble.

As the bus was coming back to Barisal, the tempo workers allegedly ransacked the bus and injured 4 of the bus workers at Natun Bazaar Marokkhola tempo stand at about 12-30 pm .

Later the bus workers from Nathullabad central bus terminal rushed to the spot, ransacked two tempos and injured about 16 people .

Tempo workers called strike in the city from 2:00 pm demanding punishment of the attackers and cancellation of the route permit.

Wahab Laskar, a bus owner, said that seven buses after getting route permit from BRTA planned to start plying on that route from Friday. But the tempo workers damaged one bus injured at least four bus workers.

Khoshed Alam, general secretary of Barisal Tempo Sramik Union, claimed that bus workers damaged at least eight tempos and injured 16 tempo workers .Injured Ashraf Ali Fakir, vice president, Khalilur Rahman, publicity secretary of their union were admitted to hospital for treatment, he said.

Muhammad Hussein Sikder, chairman of Kashipur union and Md. Nasiruddin, commissioner of ward 1 of BCC, confirmed the incident and said they were trying their best to negotiate the dispute and start bus service on the route considering the sufferings of the people on the eve of the Eid festival.

Police and RAB have been deployed at the place to avert further trouble.