Commuters suffer due to bus strike

An indefinite strike launched yesterday halted bus communication from Kushtia to Khulna and Faridpur, causing immense suffering to commuters in the region. Kushtia District Bus Owners and Workers Solidarity Council enforced the strike protesting the attack on transport staffers by Jhenaidah Workers Union on the night of April 5.

Mokbul Hossain Lavlu, general secretary of Kushtia Bus Minibus Owners’ Association, said there had long been a dispute with Jhenaidah Workers Union over bus trips to Faridpur from Kushtia.

A staffer of Kushtia’s Gorai Paribahan was beaten up by the workers union over the demand for more trips to Faridpur, he alleged.

Mokbul said protesting the attack, the wildcat strike was called on the two routes — Kushtia-Khulna and Kushtia-Faridpur.

The transport leader threatened that a countrywide strike will be called unless the attackers are arrested by April 9.

On the other hand, commuters have been facing severe suffering caused by the sudden strike in the three districts.

Bus passengers were seen waiting for hours at the Kushtia’s Majampur bus depot and a bus terminal in Chudhas area.

Commuter Sheikh Alam Hossain said he and his family members were stranded at a ticket counter as no bus was leaving for Khulna from Kushtia due to the strike. Many others commuting the routes suffered similarly.