CNG autorickshaw strike in Sylhet, distressed passengers

Staff Reporter

A 48-hour strike of CNG autorickshaws in Sylhet demanding 5 points has started from Monday morning. The passengers have suffered a lot. CNG autorickshaws are closed in Sylhet from Monday morning demanding a five-point strike. As a result, without getting a CNG autorickshaw on the road, someone is walking to their destination by Laguna or rickshaw with extra fare. In this case, most of the working people have suffered.

It can be seen on the ground that there are no CNG autorickshaws like other days in Chandipul, Kazir Bazar Bridge, Jitu Mia Point, Taltola, Bandarbazar, Amberkhana areas of South Surma of Sylhet. So people are forced to go to the office by rickshaw or on foot. Many with distressed women and children were seen staying in the terminal area. Many people want to get on the bus but they are not able to do so due to lack of space.Meanwhile, Zakaria Ahmed, president of the Sylhet District CNG Autorickshaw Workers Union, said the decision to cancel the grill addition was a settled matter. Most districts except Dhaka and Chittagong do not have CNG grills. We have discussed the matter with former finance minister Abul Abdul Muhith in the past few days. At that time it was decided that after implementing the grill in other districts, it will be implemented in Sylhet. After that we stopped talking about this issue for some time.We had a meeting with the present Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen, who is also by our side. But the administration is not on our side. Despite the ban on battery-powered rickshaws in the metropolis, they are not being stopped. He added that there is no place to park the car. So we are forced to park our cars on the road. At the end of the year we pay taxes, but the authorities fail to ensure this service to us.Asked why these demands are not being implemented, Zakaria said the Sylhet District CNG Autorickshaw Workers Union has about 50,000 workers. No representative of our organization was taken in the Regional Transport Committee. All the decisions related to transport were taken in a meeting with the Regional Transport Committee. In the absence of a representative, we do not have the opportunity to raise our demands.Now we want a representative of our organization in the regional transport committee. Besides, the Sylhet District CNG Autorickshaw Workers Union has sought permission to drive on the highways under the Metro City. If the demand is not met, the organization will hold a sit-in program on Sylhet Highway after the meeting on December 23.Under the chairmanship of Zakaria Ahmed, President of Sylhet District CNG Autorickshaw Workers Union (Reg. No. Chatt 606) and M Barkat Ali, Secretary of Shahi Eidgah Sub-Council under Zindabazar Muktijoddha Branch, General Secretary of the District Branch Md. Azad Mia, Vice President, Md. Abul Hossain spoke. Khan, Joint General Secretary Md. Shahab Uddin Mia, Organizing Secretary Md. Iqbal Hossain, Office Secretary Md. Mamunur Rashid Mamun, Publicity Secretary Mohammad Ali and others.