People continued to suffer in the capital and elsewhere across the country as bus owners on Friday stopped operating long-route buses in different districts protesting vandalism during the ongoing demonstrations of students demanding justice for their two fellows who were killed in a road crash in the capital.
In Dhaka, transport workers refrained from operating buses fearing vandalism by students who took to the streets for the six consecutive day to press for their nine-point demand, including ensuring safety in roads and justice for the two students who were killed in a road accident in the capital, and resignation of Shipping Minister Shajahan Khan, causing sufferings to commuters.
They took position on the roads and staged demonstrations in the city’s Saidabad, Gabtali, Mohakhali and Jatrabari bus terminal areas in the morning demanding their safety.
Many people were seen moving on foot and some taking rickshaws to reach their destinations.
In Rajshahi, District Road Transport Owners’ Group halted the bus service on all routes demanding safety.
Manjur Rahman, general secretary of the group, claimed that some unruly people vandalised buses during the student protests. That’s why the bus owners decided to refrain from operating buses, he said.
In Sylhet, bus services on different routes remained suspended since Thursday for the same reason.
Sylhet Transport Workers’ Union decided to suspend bus services, said Selim Ahmed Falik, president of the union.
In Bogura, long-distance bus services remained suspended since Thursday afternoon following the demonstrations of students in Dhaka.
Mahbubur Rahman Manik, a leader of Bogura Motor Owners’ Union, said the bus services with Dhaka and Chattogram were suspended at 4 pm on Thursday and no bus drivers agreed to run buses putting their lives in danger.
In Habiganj, no inter-district and local bus left the district bus terminal after a local body of transport owners called an indefinite strike.
Transport owners called the strike in Habiganj protesting harassment and demanding safety of transport workers.
In Chandpur, District Bus Owners’ Association and Sramik Union kept their vehicles off the Chandpur-Dhaka, Cumilla-Chandpur, Chandpur-Chattogram, Chandpur-Sylhet, Chandpur-Khagrachhari, Hajiganj-Dhaka, Faridganj-Chattogram, Matlab-Dhaka, Chandpur-Dinajpur routes from the morning.
In Faridpur, road communication on all the routes from the district remained suspended for the second day after transport workers called an indefinite strike citing lack of safety for the workers and vehicles.
In Barishal, bus services were suspended as Dhaka-bound buses from the district were unable to ply through Madaripur.
The Madaripur Bus Owner’s Association is not letting any bus to leave for Dhaka and also no bus is allowed to pass through Madaripur towards Dhaka.
In Benapole, all long-route bus services were suspended following the strike called by Jashore Motor Workers’ Union.
Local and foreign commuters returning from India remained stranded at the Benapole land port following the strike.
In Gazipur, transport workers staged demonstrations on Dhaka-Mymensingh highway in Borobari, Tongi and on Dhaka-Gazipur highway in Shibbari intersection and Joydebpur bus stand in the morning against the ongoing movement of the students and demanding security.
They also blocked the highways for hours.However, police later brought the situation under control.Besides, no long-route buses were seen plying in the district. Bus services from Joypurhat, Natore, Sunamganj, Cumilla and Meherpur districts were also suspended on Friday.
source:UNB
