Strike halts bus service in 6 Barisal districts

6 September 2009, 17:00 PM

Our Correspondent, Barisal

Passengers suffer as bus owners and workers go on an indefinite strike on 25 routes from and to Barisal city yesterday. The picture was taken from the central bus terminal in the city. PHOTO: BANGLAR CHOKH

Road communications between six districts of Barisal division and other parts of the country came to a halt as a group of bus owners and workers called an indefinite strike in the city yesterday morning. They enforced the wildcat strike protesting seizure of two buses by police for plying without valid certificate and route permit on Natunbazar-Babuganj route on Saturday. Leaders of the bus owners and workers, who announced the strike on all routes touching Nathullabad central bus terminal of the city, demanded immediate release of the seized buses and withdrawal of the cases filed in this connection. The strike will continue until the authorities give assurance of end to 'harassment', said Barisal District Road Transport Workers Union President Aftab Hossain, also convener of city Sramik League, and Barisal District Bus Owners Association Secretary Alamgir Hossain Alam. They also demanded punishment of AHM Azizul Huq, assistant commissioner (Traffic) of Barisal Metropolitan Police (BMP), for what they said harassment. Barisal City Corporation Mayor Shawkat Hossain Hiron has urged immediate withdrawal of the strike to relief the people from sufferings during the Ramadan. Bangladesh Road Transport Authority with the help of Barisal Metropolitan Police checked documents of the buses plying on Natunbazar-Babuganj route and seized two buses for illegal plying on Saturday. The buses were seized and cases were lodged as those were plying without valid certificate and route permit, BMP acting Commissioner Dr Abdur Rahim said. Services from Rupatali in the city to the routes in six districts of Barisal division are operating normally, said Azizur Rahman Shahi, secretary of Barisal-Patuakhali Mini Bus Owners Association at Rupatali bus terminal.