RANGPUR: Bidi (tobacco) workers Sunday laid a siege to the Dhaka-Rangpur highway demanding withdrawal the excise duty on the tobacco product for smoking.

“Traffic halted for two hours from 10:30am to 12:30pm on the road following the blockade,” witnesses said.   

Thousands of Bidi workers, coming from different upazilas, gathered at city’s Modern intersection and staged a rally. The communications suspended during the demo.

Abdul Motin, vice-president of Bidi workers federation and also president of Bidi workers union, said the government would face stern programmes if it failed to meet their demands.

Later, the workers submitted a memorandum to the deputy commissioner.

Sources said the traffic movement became as usual after the squatting.

BDST: 1650Hrs, June 20, 2010
Correspondent/RS/BK/MRF/MMA/MUA