Truck owners, drivers call off strike as TMC leaders intervene

Siliguri: Truck owners and drivers, who had been on an indefinite hunger strike at Fulbari border since December 29, have withdrawn their protest after receiving assurances of a meeting with West Bengal Transport Minister Snehashish Chakraborty.

The strike, organised jointly by the Fulbari Truck Owners Association, North Bengal Exporters Association, and Fulbari Drivers and Owners Association, was called off on Sunday night following the intervention of Khageswar Roy, MLA of Rajganj, and Mahuya Gope, President of Jalpaiguri District Trinamool Congress.

The protesters have been demanding equal regulations for Indian and Bhutanese trucks entering Bangladesh via the Fulbari border.

They allege that Indian trucks face stricter rules and higher costs while Bhutanese trucks enjoy leniency.

“We are concerned about the issues. We have already forwarded their demands to the higher authorities.

Now the drivers will hold a meeting directly with the transport minister. I hope the problem will be resolved soon,” said Mahuya Gope.

A four-member delegation of the protesters will travel to Kolkata for a meeting scheduled on January 7 with Minister Chakraborty.

As per the current rules, Indian six-wheeler trucks must pay Rs. 1,200, and ten-wheeler trucks Rs. 2,500 through the Suvidha Portal to cross the border.

In contrast, the protesters allege that Bhutanese trucks bypass these requirements.