Bus services between Rajshahi and rest of Bangladesh stalled over committee formation

The bus services have remained suspended since 6am on Tuesday

Bus services between Rajshahi and the rest of Bangladesh have remained suspended since 6am on Tuesday after a section of transport workers enforced a strike over a dispute surrounding the formation of an election committee for the Rajshahi District Motor Workers' Union.

Labour leader Mominul Islam Momin said all bus services between Rajshahi and destinations across the country, including Dhaka, have been completely halted since Tuesday morning.

The transport shutdown has left long-distance passengers facing severe hardship.

However, ticket counters have remained open and passengers are being refunded for cancelled tickets.

Earlier on Monday afternoon, a meeting chaired by Deputy Commissioner Kazi Shahidul Islam was held at his conference room to discuss the formation of an election management committee for the workers' union. No decision was reached at the meeting, after which a section of workers announced the strike.

Ashika Jaima, a passenger travelling to Dhaka, said: "We heard that bus services on all routes from Rajshahi have been suspended over the Motor Workers' Union election. Those of us who bought tickets for the morning were not even informed in advance."

Expressing her frustration, she added: "They did not consider how people with urgent commitments would travel. There was no reason to put ordinary passengers through such suffering. The most unfortunate part is that we had to come to the ticket counter to learn that the buses would not operate. There was no prior announcement or notice."