Transport strike heaps sufferings on thousands

Thousands of passengers suffered for hours as no long-route buses left Sayedabad bus terminal since morning following a strike enforced by a group of transport workers. Bangladesh Sarak Paribahan Sramik Union (BSPSU) which began the strike at 6am initially for 12 hours, however, withdrew it around 4pm following a discussion with the authorities concerned.

BSPSU went on the strike following Monday’s clashes between its followers and that of Dhaka Sarak Paribahan Sramik Union (DSPSU) over taking control of an office at Gulistan near Bangabhaban. The clash ensued after the office which was under BSPSU’s control was occupied by DSPSU on Sunday night. Dhaka, UNB News Agency Reported.

Witnesses said no inter-district bus counter at the Sayedabad opened their shutters in the morning. Similarly, a very few buses entered the city from outside. However, BRTC buses were seen plying. Officer-in-charge of Jatrbari Police Station Arifur Rahman said the long-haul buses refrained from plying since the morning following the transport strike.

He said the BSPSU called off the strike following assurance from the government of looking into the matter. Meanwhile, Bangladesh Passengers’ Welfare Association has protested the strike that caused sufferings to passengers.

A media release signed by its Secretary General Md Muzammel Hoque Chowdhury said a section of extortionists in the name of worker organisations have been carrying out misdeeds for their personal gains keeping hostage thousands of passengers. It demanded bringing the perpetrators to justice and ensuring safe and undisrupted journey of passengers resolving the crisis.