Workers of Khulna Divisional Tank-lorry Sramik Union have been observing a work abstention since Monday morning in protest against the arrest of union general secretary Ali Azam in a sabotage case.
Moreover, the collection of fuel from three depots in Khulna and supply to 16 districts under Khulna division has been suspended.
The workers started demonstrating in front of the divisional office of the union in Khulna’s Khalishpur at 7am on Monday. As of filing this report till 12apm the protest and work abstention were going on.
Detectives arrested the workers’ leader on Sunday and handed over to Khalishpur police station. He is an identified accused in a sabotage case filed on August 21 last.
Protesting the arrest, the workers refrained from loading fuel from Padma, Meghna and Jauma depots.
Read: Attacks on doctors: BMA Ctg unit announces work abstention on Sunday, Monday
The workers threatened that they wouldn’t return to work until Ali Azama was freed.
Echoing the workers’ demand, the union’s President Mir Moksed Ali alleged that Ali was arrested in a conspiratorial case and they would continue the movement unless he was released.
Khulna city Detective Branch’s Officer-in-Charge Taimur Islam said Ali Azam is an identified accused in the case over the vandalism of the BNP office in Khalishpur.
Locals detained him and handed over to them, he said.