Cumilla bus services suspended as owners enforce strike

Bus services from three major terminals in Cumilla city have been suspended since today (18 December) morning due to a dispute between two transport operators Bogdad and IDI Service causing severe inconvenience to thousands of passengers.

As a result of the strike, bus operations on around 40 routes across the district have come to a halt. No local or long-distance buses departed from the Jangalya, Shashangacha, and Chawk Bazar bus terminals, disrupting travel on key routes including Cumilla–Dhaka, Cumilla–Chattogram, Cumilla–Sylhet, and Cumilla–Chandpur.

According to sources, the Cumilla Bus Owners' Association called the strike demanding a halt to IDI Service bus operations on the Cumilla–Chandpur route from Jangalya bus terminal.

Transport leaders said that thousands of buses and minibuses normally operate daily from the city's three terminals on nearly 40 routes. In 2023, IDI Service received permission from the Chandpur district administration to operate buses on the Cumilla–Chandpur route.

The sudden suspension of bus services left passengers stranded, forcing many to seek alternative transportation at higher fares.

Saiful Islam, a student of Dhaka University, said he reached Jangalya bus terminal in the morning only to find all services suspended. "Later, I had to buy a ticket from Paduar Bazar at an extra cost of Tk100 on a bus coming from Chattogram," he said.

Abdul Kader Jilani, a schoolteacher from Suagazi, shared a similar experience. "I came to the highway in the morning to catch a local bus to Cumilla city, but none were operating. Eventually, I boarded a Dhaka-bound bus from Chattogram and had to pay a higher fare," he said.

IDI Service Chairman Mir Parvez Alam alleged that despite obtaining official permission from the Chandpur district administration, a syndicate within the Cumilla bus owners' group has been obstructing their operations from the beginning. He claimed that due to the lack of a route permit from the Cumilla district administration, IDI Service has been operating its buses since February this year from Paduar Bazar Bishwaroad, about two kilometers away from Jangalya terminal.

Meanwhile, Cumilla Bus Owners' Association Executive President Md Tajul Islam said that although IDI Service has a permit from the Chandpur district administration, it does not have a route permit from Cumilla. "Despite this, they are attempting to use the bus terminals. After repeated objections, some buses were brought into the terminal on Victory Day. Attempts were made again on Wednesday and Thursday, forcing us to suspend bus operations from all three terminals," he said.

Cumilla Additional Deputy Commissioner (General) Md Saiful Islam said that representatives from both parties had met with the Additional District Magistrate regarding the issue. "We are working to resolve the matter," he said.