People are facing huge sufferings as a two-day transport strike has continued in Patuakhali district.

Due to the ongoing transport strike ahead of BNP’s divisional rally, the district has been virtually disconnected from other parts of the country.

Transport owners and workers have called the strike, demanding a ban on three-wheelers and other illegal vehicles. But BNP leaders said the bus and launch services have been stopped targeting BNP’s divisional rally.

There are no buses on roads. As a result, three-wheelers, Nasimon, Karimon, battery-run auto-rickshaws and other vehicles are plying on roads.

Therefore, the passengers were forced to leave for their destination in these vehicles by paying double the fare.

Meanwhile, due to the ongoing strike, the tourist arrival at Kuakata beach has decreased. Most of the hotel motel rooms are empty. So, tourism related businessmen are spending a lot of idle time.

Sohel Sikder, a passenger standing at the Patuakhali intersection, said, “I am a furniture (wood) trader. I have to go to Bakerganj for business. Now, we have to go by three-wheeler but they are asking extra fare”.

Information and Broadcasting Minister and Awami League Joint General Secretary Dr Hasan Mahmud today said BNP is the first ‘king’s party’ of the country founded by Ziaur Rahman.

“Ziaur Rahman after usurping to power formed BNP through distributing leftover of power,” he said while replying to a query of reporters at his office at secretariat here.

About the recent role of civil society and intellectuals, Dr Hasan said, “We saw different statements of intellectuals with importance. But unfortunately they are silent when the arson attacks are carrying out on public transports and public properties. Many people became victims of the arson attacks.”

He said those subversive activities will be stopped when the conscious people, journalists and civil society would raise their voice against them. But it is regrettably true that the so-called civil society didn’t make any statement against the violence of BNP-Jamaat, he added.

Dr Hasan said, “I think that the so-called civil society who makes statements time to time should be identified as opportunists. I would like to urge the journalists to identify them and unmask them.”

Criticising a comment of BNP leader Ruhul Kabir Rizvi, the minister said most of the BNP leaders from top to bottom are leaving the party. “I’ve a question to BNP leaders that why they do the politics of BNP? The top leader of the party is not allowed anyone to participate any election whatever it is at union, upazila or national level.”

Being annoyed with BNP’s subversive politics many leaders and workers would leave the party, Hasan Mahmud said hoping that BNP would refrain from such evil politics.

Replying to another query over poll, Dr Hasan said it is not mentioned in the constitution that an election would not be acceptable if a particular political party does not take part in the election. 

Many elections were held in Bangladesh in the past where many political parties remained absent, he said, adding even a political party led by a big leader didn’t take part in 1970’s election.

The information minister said BNP and other political parties didn’t take part in city corporation polls. But, the countrymen took part in those polls, he said.

:BSS