200 trucks stranded at Mawa

The BNP-led 18-Party alliance had called for the 72-hour blockade, starting from 6am on Saturday, after its 71-hour blockade ended at 5am on Friday.

The 200 trucks with perishable goods have been trapped on Mawa-Kewrakandi river route on the first day of the blockade.

These trucks are carrying agricultural goods worth millions.

The goods will start to rot, if the trucks remain stuck, stakeholders say.

The truck drivers also fear petrol bomb attacks.

One of them, Alamgir Hossain said, “I have been stuck here since Friday, when I crossed the Padma river.”

“I am bound for Chittagong from Satkhira with fish in my truck.”

The whole truckload of fish will perish if he was stranded here for three days, Hossain feared.

Another truck driver Md Babu worried about food and stay which would cost him quite a bit if his truck remains stranded for three days.

“I will not get any extra payment for these days and so I am worried.”

“They (political parties) should think of alternatives, they should not hit at our daily bread and butter with strikes and blockades.”

Situation is not different for truck drivers Md Shahin Mia, Nurul Islam and Shafiq Dewan. Some of them are stuck with vegetables and others with fish or other perishable commodities.

Over 200 vehicles were stranded on both sides of the Mawa terminal, despite adequate numbers of ferries, said BIWTC Assistant General Manager Ashikuzzaman.

“Trucks are coming from that side and getting stuck at Mawa side due to blockade.”

Adequate measures had been taken to ensure security of the trucks, he added.