BIRGUNJ: The protesting vegetable and meat entrepreneurs closed markets for the fourth day in Birgunj, Parsa on Friday.

According to Sanjaya Lal Karna, central member of Vegetable and Meat Entrepreneur Federation they would start an indefinite strike from August 4, if their demands were not addressed until August 3. He added that they would stage a phase wise protest programme as the local administration ignored their demands.

The entrepreneurs accuse the Sub-Metropolitan City of collecting irregular tax from them. They submitted an ultimatum to Durga Prasad Bhandari, chief district officer of Parsa protesting the Pithiya tax on Thursday.

The businessmen have scheduled the bandh programme with a transportation bandh on August 1, padlocking the Sub-Metropolitan City on August 2, and District Administration Office gherao on August 3.