Several hundred people, who are now out of job due to nationwide lockdown over coronavirus, blocked the Jashore-Khulna highway on Thursday demanding food aid.
Protesters gathered at Chaulia Gate, one of the busiest highway in Jashore’s Sadar Upazila, and demonstrated for two hours, causing a tail back. A large number of trucks and ambulances were left stranded on both sides of the road during the demonstration.
The protesters said most of them are daily wage earners and now have no work due to lockdown. They have no food at home and received nothing from the government.
Later, three teams of officials from Jashore, led by Executive Magistrate KM Abu Nowshad, Executive Magistrate Sheikh Moinul Islam and Executive Magistrate Md Zakir Hossain, came to the spot and talked to the protesters.
They asked local Narendrapur Union Parishad Chairman Modasher Ali to provide relief to the protesters. Chairman Modasher said they received 11 tonnes of rice for unemployed people in his union. They can provide 122 families with relief in each ward of the union, headed.
Being assured of receiving relief, the protesters cleared the road before traffic become normal. Distribution of 10 kg of relief rice per a family has begun and it will continue, the chairman informed.
