Chattogram Correspondent

The tourists in Cox's Bazar have been facing severe disruptions due to the 48-hours transport strike in five districts on Sunday amid ongoing student protests over the deaths of two Chattogram University of Engineering and Technology (CUET) students in an accident involving a bus.

The strike was organized by ‘Greater Chattogram Public Transport Owners and Workers Unity Council’ which was started from 6am on Sunday in Chattogram, Cox’s Bazar, Bandarban, Rangamati, and Khagrachhari districts.

Mohammad Musa, member secretary of the association, said all types of public transports, including bus, minibus, tempo and auto-rickshaw, will remain off the road during the strike from 6am on Sunday until 6am on Tuesday.

"However, private vehicles will be allowed to run," he said.

"We have called a strike on all kinds of public transport including buses, minibuses, coaches, tempos and autorickshaws as part of a four-point list of demands," said Musa.

"We were forced to declare the programme after the administration and the related law enforcers failed to heed our demands at different times," he added.

Other demands of the association include taking legal action regarding the vandalism of 4-5 vehicles and the burning of three buses, an investigation into whether the motorcycle carrying the students was registered, whether the driver had a valid license.

Meanwhile, the CUET students have been on the streets since the death of their fellows boycotting classes and examinations. They blocked road by setting fire on logs and tyres to press home their 10-point demand for safe road.

Later, the university authority closed the institute for an indefinite period and asked the students to vacate dormitories on Thursday to control the situation. On Friday, the authority reviewed the decision and allowed the students to stay in the dormitories.