Sylhet transport personnel clash over Welfare Fund, 50 injured
At least 50 people were injured when two rival sets of transport workers locked in a violent clash in Sylhet city over an allegation of embezzling money from Workers Welfare Fund by among their leaders.
Witnesses said a group of workers began protesting against Sylhet District Sarak Paribahan Sramik Union president Selim Ahmed Folik around 1:00pm at Kadamtali area under Dakshin Surma upazila, claiming that he embezzled about Tk 2 crore from the neighborhood Transport Workers' Welfare Fund.
They alleged that Folik also didn't provide any acceptable answer in this regard.
The agitated workers took position in front of Bangladesh Sarak Paribahan Sramik Federation office and chanted slogans against Folik.
Another group of personnel who were known supporters Folik engaged in a violent clash with the agitated employees at about 4.00pm, leaving at least 50 injured in and around the bus terminal area.
Later, RAB and police found the spot and shot blank fires to bring the situation under control.
Mitali Sramik Union organising secretary Milad Ahmed Riyad said, "Folik has provided a statement, revealing that there is merely Tk 41 lakh though the amount is meant to be minimum Tk 2.5 crore deposited to the welfare fund. We firmly assume that he embezzled the amount of money and will not allow him to enter office unless he offers a true statement about the fund."
