Long-haul bus services from Rajshahi disrupted again as workers protest
Long-distance bus services from Rajshahi have once again come to a halt after transport workers blocked operations, causing severe suffering for passengers. This came just hours after bus owners announced the withdrawal of their strike.
Several buses left Rajshahi's Shiroil bus terminal for the first time in five days today (30 September), but workers intervened and stopped them. Workers staged overnight demonstrations at the terminal demanding fair wages and better benefits, and continued their sit-in and work abstention into today.
Yesterday afternoon, owners of buses from Chapainawabganj, Rajshahi, and Natore to Dhaka, Chattogram, and Sylhet had declared the strike withdrawn, saying they had reached an agreement with the owners and services would resume normally. However, within hours, sections of the workers rejected the decision and returned to strike.
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Workers of some transport operators complained they are not receiving the same facilities as those of rival companies like Ekota Paribahan. They announced they would not return to work until their demands are met.
The dispute first erupted 25 September night when owners suspended services in response to workers' wage demands. This month alone, drivers, supervisors, and helpers have enforced two earlier strikes over similar issues, leaving passengers repeatedly stranded.
Several buses left Rajshahi's Shiroil bus terminal for the first time in five days today (30 September), but workers intervened and stopped them.
One female passenger at Shiroil bus stand expressed frustration, "I bought a ticket to Dhaka after hearing the strike was over, but now buses are stopped again. They won't refund me here, telling me to go back to where I bought the ticket. That's not possible right now, and I urgently need to travel to Dhaka."
Speaking for the workers, Sadeq, a driver of Desh Travels, said, "We don't accept the owners' decision. Benefits must be raised not just for drivers, but also for supervisors and helpers. If our demands are ignored, we will be forced into an indefinite strike."
