Transport workers, police in Dinajpur over leader’s arrest: 50 hurt

Transport workers clashed with police in Dinajpur on Thusday over the arrest of their leader.

Dinajpur, Aug 27 — At least 50 people were injured in sporadic clashes that broke out following the arrest of transport workers’ leader Sheikh Badsha in Dinajpur on Thursday.

Two buses and a motorcycle belonging to a journalist were set on fire, while several other buses were vandalised during the clashes, disrupting bus services on all routes for nearly eight hours.

Earlier, police arrested Sheikh Badsha, former joint general secretary of the Dinajpur Motor Transport Workers’ Union on Wednesday night.

Later, the transport workers went to the police station several times seeking his release but failed to reach a settlement.

Protesting the incident, the workers blocked roads from around 7am Thursday by parking buses across different points in the district town and on roads connecting Dinajpur with other districts.

At around 10:45am, a chase and counter-chase took place between police and the transport workers inside Kotwali Police Station, leaving five to seven people injured.

Another clash broke out in front of the police station at around 3:15pm, leaving around 50 people injured, including three critically.

During the clash, two buses and a journalist’s motorcycle were set on fire. Several buses parked in front of the police station were also vandalised.

Later police brought the situation under control and sent Sheikh Badsha to jail, said Kotwali police.

The road blockade disrupted bus services on all routes, including long-distance services, while trucks and other vehicles remained stranded at different points, causing significant hardship to commuters and other travellers.

Police said Sheikh Badsha was shown arrested in a case previously filed against him.

However, his wife and supporters alleged that he had been implicated in a false case at the instigation of his rivals to prevent him from contesting the upcoming triennial election of the Motor Transport Workers’ Union, in which he was a candidate for general secretary. - UNB