Bus services halted in city and different districts

People continued to suffer for the 6th consecutive day in the capital on Friday as transport workers refrained from operating buses fearing vandalism by students demanding safe road and punishment of those responsible for the death of their two fellows in a recent road crash.

The transport workers took position on the roads and staged demonstrations in the city’s Saidabad, Gabtoli, Mohakhali and Jatrabari bus terminal areas on Friday morning demanding their safety.

Many people were seen moving on foot and some taking rickshaws to reach their destinations.

On Sunday, Diya Khanam Mim and Abdul Karim Rajib, students of the college section of ShaheedRamizUddin School and College, were killed as a 'Jabal-e-Noor Paribahan' bus ploughed through some students in front of Kurmitola General Hospital on Airport Road, reports UNB.

Bus owners and workers today suspended transport services in different districts since this morning citing safety of the workers and vehicles due to the ongoing student movement demanding safe roads in Dhaka and elsewhere in the country.

In Dhaka, very few buses were plying the roads after students took to the streets and staged demonstration for the last five days demanding safety on the roads and justice for their two fellows who were killed in a tragic road accident at Airport Road in the capital on Sunday.

Abdur Rahim Box Dudu, senior vice chairman of Bangladesh Road Transport Workers’ Federation, told The Daily Star that the bus owners and workers in different districts halted their transport services fearing lack of security as some vehicles were vandalised by agitating students in different areas.

“It is not a formal strike from the association,” he said.

Meanwhile, inter-district bus communication remained suspended in Habiganj, Rajshahi, Comilla, Chandpur and Sylhet districts, said transport workers.

In Habiganj, no inter-district and local buses were leaving the Habiganj District Bus Terminal following an indefinite strike enforced by Habiganj Motor Owners’ Group, a local body of transport owners.

In Comilla, no buses left for Dhaka from Shashongacha and Jangalia bus terminals in the district for safety, Ahmed Mia Pavel, leader of Comilla District Bus Owner’s Union.

In Rajshahi, all inter-district and local buses were taken off the roads across Rajshahi division today as a transport owners’ association enforced a strike demanding security of the vehicles and transport workers amid the ongoing agitation of students demanding safe roads.

However, the transport owners have decided to ply their vehicles at night, said Monjur Rahman, general secretary Rajshahi Road Transport Group.

Meanwhile, similar situation prevailed in Chandpur and Sylhet districts, reports thedailystar​.