Bus workers go on instant strike

Hundreds of people in Dhaka suffered immensely as transport workers suspended bus operations for hours protesting the sentencing of a bus helper to one-month imprisonment and the alleged beating up of a bus driver.

A mobile court of Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA) around 10:30am at Agargaon sentenced the helper of a bus, which runs from Mirpur-12 to Mawa, for charging passengers extra.

Around 20 minutes later, some transport workers attempted to block the Rokeya Sarani at Agargaon by parking their buses on the street. At one stage, a police officer allegedly beat up a bus driver, said witnesses and BRTA officials.

Transport workers then suspended bus operation in most of the routes inside the city for around 6 hours.

The agitating workers also vandalised windows of a few buses when those tried to operate during the suspension.

In Pallabi and Phulbaria, transport workers staged demonstrations blocking streets. 

Visiting different bus stops, many passengers were seen waiting for hours. Some giving up hope for a bus, started to walk.

"I have been waiting here for around two hours. During this time only two buses came, but those were fully packed," said Kamruzzaman, a shop owner, who was waiting at Sheorapara yesterday around noon.

Sujan Mandal, a university student, said, "I waited for a bus for over an hour. Finding no transport, I have come to Jigatala from Mohammadpur on foot."

The elderly people and the sick suffered the most.

"My sick father and I have been waiting for around one hour here. I could neither get a bus nor an auto-rickshaw. My father is becoming more sick," said Shahidullah, who wanted to go to the Dhaka Medical College Hospital, while talking to this correspondent at Shahbagh.

Around 5:00pm bus services resumed following assurance from the authorities concerned that transport operators would not be "harassed".

"We have talked to the minister, BRTA chairman and other top level officials concerned. They have assured us not to harass or physically assault any transport workers further," said Ismail Hossain Bacchu, general secretary, Dhaka Zilla Sarak Paribahan Sramik Union.

However, BRTA Director (enforcement) Bijoy Bhushan Paul said they would continue their drives against charging passengers extra fare, unfit vehicles on roads and fake licences.

Sub-Inspector Sohel Rana of Kafrul Police Station was withdrawn in connection with the beating up of the driver, said Syed Kaiumuzzaman Khan, deputy commission (Mirpur division) of Dhaka Metropolitan Police.   

The Road Transport and Bridges Ministry on October 1 increased bus fares in the capital by 10 paisa per km. Taking advantage of this, many bus operators had been charging a lot more than the official fare.

The BRTA had been conducting drives for the last couple of days to stop overcharging of passengers.

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