Passenger woes mount as bus services to Dhaka halted from 3 northern districts

Bus services from Chapainawabganj, Rajshahi and Natore to Dhaka have been suspended indefinitely by bus owners, amid a dispute over wage increases for transport workers, causing severe suffering for passengers.

The sudden announcement to close bus counters came at around 10pm yesterday (25 September).

Local services continue to operate normally on the Rajshahi-Dhaka route, but long-haul Dhaka-bound coaches have suspended operations.

According to sources familiar with the matter, bus drivers currently receive Tk1,250 per trip from Rajshahi to Dhaka, supervisors Tk500 and drivers' assistants Tk400. Recently, workers launched protests demanding higher wages, leading to repeated halts in service.

To resolve the crisis, a meeting between workers and owners was held in Dhaka on 23 September, where it was decided that starting today (26 September), drivers would receive Tk1,750, supervisors Tk750 and assistants Tk700 per trip.

However, last night, just before the implementation was to begin, owners shut down operations, saying they would not pay the increased wages. 

The abrupt suspension left passengers stranded late at night.

Passengers said the shutdown, announced without warning just two days before the Durga Puja holidays, has put them in great distress. 

Buses and trains are already overcrowded ahead of the festival, they said, adding that now, with no buses running, they are in serious trouble.

Rafiqul Islam Pakhi, acting general secretary of the Rajshahi district motor workers' union, said, "The increased wages were fixed after several rounds of talks with the owners, and suspending bus operations without any announcement just before implementation is a disgraceful act.

"The suffering of passengers is beyond words. Action should be taken against the owners for this game they are playing with passengers."

Bus owners, meanwhile, declined to comment on the issue.