Tank lorry workers staged a protest, rally and human chain on the Khulna-Jashore highway on Tuesday, demanding an end to alleged police harassment and extortion. The programme, called by the Khulna Divisional Tank Lorry Owners-Workers Unity Council, ran from 9am to 11am between Phultala and Pather Bazar in Khulna.

Workers initially attempted to hold their programme in front of Phultala police station but faced police obstruction. They later held the human chain, protest and gathering in the Pather Bazar area under Khan Jahan Ali police station. Vehicle movement was halted on about one kilometre of the highway during the action.

The gathering was chaired by Khulna Divisional Tank Lorry Workers Union president Enam Munshi. Speakers included Sheikh Murad Hossain, Mir Mokshed Ali and union general secretary Ali Azim. They alleged that police and administration personnel stop vehicles on the road for document checks and engage in extortion and harassment. They said documents should be checked at terminals before fuel is loaded, noting each tanker carries about 9,000 litres of flammable material.