The country’s road transport sector has suffered losses of over Tk 2,600 crore caused by the disruption in the services of around five lakh buses and goods carriers since October 28 amid the ongoing blockades and hartal, said transport owners.
Of this, owners of the goods carriers face the bigger loss of over Tk 1,500 crore.
Transport owners association secretary general Khandakar Enayetullah said that huge vehicles were vandalised across the country with 90 per cent of the incidents took place in Dhaka.
Owners are running very few luxury buses on long routes due to lack of passenger availability, the association secretary general said.
The Bangladesh Road Transport Owners Association said to The Shuttle Times on Sunday, while its leaders claimed that the sector has also suffered the loss of Tk 26.50 crore on a separate account due to the vandalism and arson attacks on buses and other carriers in the current political turmoil.
Bangladesh Covered Van-Truck-Prime Mover Goods Transport Owners Association stated that the sector faced a daily loss of Tk108 crore as goods transportation remained almost shut down for six days from 19 to 24 July.
At least 80 people were killed and over 600 injured in clashes between protesters, police and ruling party activists across the country amid ongoing demonstration enforced by the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement to press home their one-point demand.
According to the reports reaching at UNB news desk, seven people died in Feni, six in Narsingdi district, thirteen in Sirajganj, seven in Dhaka, four in Rangpur districts, three each in Pabna, Bogura, Cumilla and Kishoreganj districts, two each in Munshiganj, Sylhet and Sherpur districts while one in Magura, Joypurhat, Bhola, Habiganj and Barishal districts.
Besides, over 600 people suffered injuries, including with bullets in clashes and attacks across the country.
In Dhaka, at least seven people died and over 100 were injured in clashes.
Three of the deceased were identified as Tawhidul, 22, Obaidullah Siddique, 23, student of Habibullah Bahar College, Ramijuddon Habib Rup, student of Daffodil University .
The government has imposed curfew for an indefinite period from 6 pm today in the capital and some other parts of the country.
Curfew was imposed in the Dhaka Metropolitan area and all divisional headquarters, city corporations, municipalities, industrial areas, district and upazila headquarters, said the Home Ministry in a notice today.
The curfew will remain in force until further notice.
Bangladesh Army today urged the people to abide
by the curfew which was imposed for an indefinite period from today as the
country overall law and order situation deteriorated again.
"Bangladesh Army will perform its promised duty in line with Bangladesh
Constitution and existing laws of the country. In this regard, the people are
requested to abide by the curfew as well as give full cooperation to this
end," said an ISPR release issued here.