Bus service from Mymensingh Division to Dhaka suspended indefinitely

Bus service was previously suspended for five and a half hours after duelling protests by Students Against Discrimination and transport workers

Bus service from Mymensingh Division to Dhaka has been suspended for a second day to protest the arrest of a transport worker and the decision to halt operations of certain buses.

Bus passengers are suffering due to the indefinite work stoppage announced.

Police said the standoff began on Friday night, when Abu Raihan, a recognised July fighter from Haluaghat, allegedly faced verbal abuse from bus staffer Arun Jhontu after accidentally bumping into him while boarding. Despite identifying himself as a July fighter and apologising several times, Jhontu forced Raihan off the bus.

From 9pm, Students Against Discrimination (SAD) activists held a demonstration in front of the Dhaka Bus Stand counter for United Service in Mymensingh’s Maskanda area. Police then detained United Transport worker Jhontu.

Transport workers then launched a counter-protest at 11am on Saturday in front of the Bypass Road in the city, blocking bus service from Mymensingh, Netrokona, Sherpur, and Jamalpur to Dhaka.

Buses from Dhaka to the four districts were also blocked in the Bypass area, leading to intense traffic congestion and long tailbacks. Passengers on both sides of the road were stuck for hours. Some decided to get off their buses and set off for their destinations on their own.

The students have demanded punishment for those responsible, the arrest of Aminul Haque Shamim, vice-president of the district Awami League unit, implicated in the murder of July Uprising martyr Sagor. They also called for all buses owned by him under the United Service line to be taken out of service. Shamim is said to own 16 buses.

On the other hand, the transport workers demanded that the detained worker be released and security be ensured.

Following talks with transport workers, it was agreed around 4:30pm to suspend the operation of all 16 buses.

The leaders of SAD then moved from the Maskanda bus counter, and transport workers lifted the Bypass blockade, allowing stranded buses to resume their journeys.

Transport worker leaders said United Transport’s Mymensingh office contacted authorities in Dhaka's Mohakhali, resulting in a decision to suspend the services of United and Shoukhin.

As a result, while other services have resumed, buses from these two companies remain off the road.

All buses bound for Dhaka from Mymensingh Division’s four districts were also suspended on Sunday.