Transport workers have stopped long-distance bus service from Rangpur to Dhaka demanding five points including increase in salaries and allowances. Passengers are in dire straits due to the sudden start of the strike without any prior announcement. The workers have been on strike since 6 am on Tuesday. No long distance bus left Dhaka Bus Stand at Kamarpara in Rangpur city till Tuesday noon. However, two transportation companies named ENA and Shah Fateh Ali Paribahan are exempted from strike. Meanwhile, MA Majid, Rangpur divisional general secretary of Bangladesh Road Transport Workers Federation, denied the strike. It has been seen on the spot that the drivers and workers are spending lazy time at Kamarpara Dhaka Bus Stand. Ticket sales from the counter have been stopped. Passengers who have already booked their tickets are in trouble due to sudden stoppage of bus services without prior announcement. A few workers of Hanif Paribahan and SR Travels said that they have been on strike since morning demanding five points including increase in salaries and allowances and an end to police harassment on the roads.
Maruf Hossain, who had booked advance tickets from the counter of SR Travels, alleged that such a sudden strike had increased the suffering of the common man.
He said, "I bought a ticket on Monday night to go to Dhaka with my family. But when I came to the coach stand in the morning, I heard that the bus service was stopped. In the end I had to suffer.”
MA Majid, general secretary of Rangpur division of Bangladesh Road Transport Workers Federation, said, "I don't know the exact reason for stopping the bus service. We don't want people to suffer because of the closure of transport during the month of Ramadan.”
