Dhubri, Aug. 13: The Biswajit Roy faction of the All Koch-Rajbongshi Students Union (AKRSU) has “temporarily” called off its ongoing 1,000-hour economic blockade responding to a request made by several organisations of traders and transporters of Lower Assam districts today.

The blockade started on July 20 demanding a separate state for Koch-Rajbongshis and seeking tripartite talks on the issue. Altogether 32 traders and transporters’ associations from Lower Assam districts had urged AKRSU’s Biswajit Roy faction to withdraw the blockade in view of the severe scarcity of goods and the hardship faced by the local residents.

“Today’s meeting involved representatives of 32 associations of buses, trucks, transporters and traders from Dhubri, Bongaigaon, Bijni, Kokrajhar, Gossaigan, Barpeta and Goalpara at Hotel Kanishka in Bongaigaon. After hearing them, we held discussions with our other wings and decided to honour the requests of the associations,” Roy said.

He warned that the withdrawal of the blockade was, however, only a temporary measure. “We have given the state government a month’s time to address our demands and if the government fails to respond yet again, we would announce the next phase of agitation at the end of September,” he said.

Sources in Bongaigaon said that inspector-general of police R. Chandranathan had played a key role in persuading the AKRSU leaders to hold talks with traders and transporters associations a few days back. Roy also said representatives of the associations who attended the meeting had promised to submit a memorandum to chief minister Tarun Gogoi, urging him to hammer out a solution.

The representatives of the association also offered to extend total cooperation in support of AKRSU’s demand during any future agitation programme, Roy further said.

President of Dhubri-Golokganj Truck Owners’ Association Azizul Hussain Khan said the association would soon submit a memorandum to the chief minister through the deputy commissioner, urging him to consider the AKRSU’s demand sympathetically.

“Representatives of the association who attended the meeting highlighted the hardships they had to face while plying vehicles during bandhs and blockades,” Khan said.

“This blockade not only inconvenienced commuters, but also harassed traders who had to suffer heavy losses,” he added.