Long-haul buses will not operate after 9pm across Bangladesh

Long-haul buses will stay off the road after 9pm until further notice amid the ongoing BNP-sponsored blockade in which hundreds of vehicles have been damaged across Bangladesh.

Transport owners accepted the government’s decision on the matter on Monday at a meeting presided over by State Minister for Home Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal in Dhaka.

Arson attacks on buses and trucks on highways have killed at least 50 people since Jan 5 when BNP chief Khaleda Zia called the indefinite blockade.

Monday’s decision comes after a series of arson attacks on highways despite police and BGB patrol.

Kamal said the government had requested the vehicle owners to ensure buses reached destinations before 9pm.

“They had differed with us then but concurred today after a long discussion,” he said.

“No night-coaches will operate until further notice but other vehicles transporting goods will run.”

Arson attacks continued despite government decision to deploy 12,000 Ansar personnel at key points to prevent acts of sabotage, apart from police and BGB patrols.

The state minister said most of the incidents were taking place in Gaibandha, Chittagong and Barisal.

Passenger buses will resume operations at 9pm once the government identified the violence-prone areas and ensure full security, he said.

“It won’t take long,” he assured.

Secretary General of Bangladesh Road Transport Owners Khandker Enaetullah said the problem was only at some particular points in the North and Chittagong.

The government earlier decided to compensate vehicle owners in case of highway violence during the BNP’s blockade.

State Minister Kamal said 674 applications seeking damages were sent to the Prime Minister’s Office until Feb 5.

Asked if anyone had been compensated, he said, “We’ve filed applications. I heard they were being examined.”