Mohakhali bus services resume as transport workers call off strike

Transport workers at Mohakhali Bus Terminal have withdrawn their strike hours after being assured by the police of arresting local youths who allegedly beat up a bus driver.

The workers called the strike on Tuesday morning following the incident on Monday night but withdrew it around 11am, according to the leaders of the transport workers.

The decision to withdraw the strike was taken following assurances by the Dhaka Metropolitan Police of arresting those who assaulted one of our drivers, Shahidullah Sadu, general secretary of Dhaka District Bus-Minibus Road Transport Workers Union, told bdnews24.com.

“One person was arrested after the meeting with the transport workers.  We’ll start a case on the incident,” Prabir Kumar Roy, deputy commissioner of Dhaka Traffic (north) Police, told bdnews24.com.

A bus operating on the Dhaka-Netrokona route went to a gas station near Mohakhali bus terminal at around 11pm on Monday when some local young people engaged in disputes with the driver.

“At one stage, the young men got into the bus and beat driver Saiful. They also snatched the money from him,” Sadu complains.

“There’s a gang of criminals in the neighbourhood around the bus terminal who attack the drivers and snatch away the money. This has happened before as well. Police never took any steps against them when we complained,” said Abul Kalam, chief of Mohakhali Bus Owners Association.