Student alliance to block Dhaka-Narayanganj route tomorrow over bus fare hike
The alliance will enforce the blockade from 8am at Chashara, demanding a reduction in the recently increased bus fares on the route.
A coalition of student organisations has announced a blockade on the Dhaka-Narayanganj route tomorrow (6 October) demanding a reduction in bus fares following a recent hike.
The 'Transport Syndicate Opposition Student Alliance' will enforce the blockade from 8am at Chashara, a central point in Narayanganj, leaders of the participating organisations said.
The fare for non-AC buses on the Dhaka-Narayanganj route was recently increased from Tk55 to Tk60 following a rise in fuel prices. The student half fare was also raised from Tk35 to Tk40.
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Several student organisations have been protesting the hike, describing the increased fares as unjustified. Several rounds of discussions at bus counters and the local UNO office, however, have failed to resolve the dispute.
The alliance was formed by eight student organisations to press for a reduction in bus fares.
The organisations are Bangladesh Chhatra Federation, Jatiya Chhatra Shakti, Bangladesh Khelafat Chhatra Majlis, Islami Chhatra Andolan Bangladesh, Islami Chhatra Majlis, Bangladesh Islami Chhatra Sena and Bangladesh Chhatra Odhikar Parishad, along with another organisation.
The alliance had announced that it would enforce a full blockade on 6 October if the fares were not reduced by 5 October.
With no agreement reached so far, the blockade is set to go ahead tomorrow, raising concerns over possible confrontation between students and bus operators.
Sourav Sen, general secretary of the Bangladesh Chhatra Federation's Narayanganj district unit, said the students did not want a confrontation and had repeatedly given the authorities and bus owners time to resolve the issue.
"The latest proposal was to set the bus fare at Tk58 and the student half fare at Tk34. But the bus owners did not accept it either. We have decided to blockade Chashara from 8am tomorrow," he said.
He said campaigns had already been conducted at educational institutions, while microphones were being used across the city to mobilise support for the blockade.
Jahirul Islam, member secretary of the Narayanganj metropolitan unit of Jatiya Chhatra Shakti, said they were prepared to enforce the blockade.
"We are being pressured in various ways not to enforce the blockade. They may even accept our demands tonight. But we will not withdraw until our legitimate demands are met," he said.
"If the demands are accepted, we will withdraw the blockade. Otherwise, we will remain on the streets tomorrow morning," he added.
Narayanganj Deputy Commissioner Raihan Kabir said the students had raised a reasonable demand and called the blockade because it had not yet been addressed.
"The matter is still under discussion. We hope it will be resolved soon. We do not see any possibility of a confrontation," he said.
