Transport strike continuing in several districts
Passengers were waiting at Gabtoli bus terminal in the capital as only a few buses have left for the inter-city routes since this morning.
The transport strike is continuing in a number of places across the country today even though it was formally called off on Wednesday evening.
Passengers were waiting at Gabtoli bus terminal in the capital as only a few buses have left for the inter-city routes since this morning, reports Bangla daily Prothom Alo.
Local people said no buses left for the long-distance routes since 8am.
However, transport workers did not stage any protest there.
The strike was called off after a meeting with the home minister.
Police said the situation has improved since morning.
Meanwhile, the situation has remained almost unchanged in Bogura, Kushtia and Tangail.
Protesters are continuing the strike in Kushtia and bus services have remained suspended for the sixth consecutive day, causing acute sufferings to the commuters.
The district administration had a meeting with the bus owners' association but that could not do much to improve the situation.
Makbul Hossain, president of Kushtia District Bus-Minibus Owners' Association, said they would make a decision on this soon.
In Bogura, only a few buses were seen on the streets.
A few trucks were carrying goods on the highways of the northern districts since morning, reports our correspondent, adding that many passengers had to opt for other modes of transportation due to a shortage of buses on the roads.
Commuters on Dhaka-Tangail highway suffered as bus services remained suspended for the second day, reports Bangla daily Prothom Alo.
They waited for buses for a long time or paid the extra fare to use other transports to reach their destinations.
No bus operated on any routes in Satkhira. The strike also affected Bhomra port activities as no truck transported goods to and from there, reports our correspondent.
The disruption at the port has caused the government to incur a loss of Tk10 crore in the last few days.
Satkhira Bus Workers Union General Secretary Jahidur Rahman told The Business Standard workers would drive their vehicles after instructions from the bus owners.
Satkhira Bus-Minibus Owners' Association President Saiful Karim Sabu said bus owners did not order workers to go on strike but it was a voluntary move of the latter.
