Fuel supplies to 10 districts in Khulna and five in Faridpur were disrupted on Tuesday, as oil tanker workers called an indefinite strike over an attack on one of their union leaders.
The strike began around 8am, as the tanker workers refused to refill or transport oil from Padma, Meghna and Jamuna depots, demanding the arrest of assailants who attacked their union leader on Monday.
On Monday, around 12pm, a group of people attacked Al Amin, the line secretary of the Tank-Lorry Workers' Union, at the Kashipur Banglar Mor area. He was subsequently admitted to Khulna Medical College and Hospital with severe injuries.
“The workers have vowed to continue the strike until the assailants are arrested and brought to justice. They are currently demonstrating in front of the union office,” said Mir Moksed Ali, president of Khulna division's Tank-Lorry Workers' Union.
Around 1pm on Monday, the workers blocked the Notun Rasta intersection in the city in protest against the attack and dispersed only at 4 pm after getting assurance from the authorities, he said.
Meanwhile, Md Kamal Hossain, officer-in-charge of Khalishpur police station, said a case was filed against two men and 12 unidentified people in connection with the assault, following a complaint from the victim’s brother on Monday night.
"We are conducting raids to arrest the accused," he added.
