Bus strike in Kushtia lifted after productive meeting with authorities

Following a productive meeting with the administration, leaders of the Kushtia Transport Owners and Workers Unity Council have called off the indefinite bus strike in Kushtia.

The decision was announced after a meeting with district administration officials and leaders of the CNG Owners Association on Friday afternoon.

The meeting, chaired by Acting Deputy Commissioner of Kushtia, Sharmin Akhter, included Kushtia District Bus, Minibus, and Microbus Workers Union President Md Mahbub Alam, General Secretary of the Kushtia District Bus and Minibus Owners Group Abul Fazal Selim, President of Mirpur CNG Owners Association Mohibul Haque, and several political leaders including BNP's Kushtia District General Secretary and former MP of Kushtia Sadar Constituency, Principal Sohrab Uddin, along with Toukir Ahmed, Coordinator of the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement in Kushtia.

Md. Mahbub Alam, President of the Kushtia District Bus, Minibus, and Microbus Workers Union and leader of the Unity Council, stated, "We are not enemies of anyone. However, it has been observed that CNG drivers crowd the areas designated for bus passengers, causing traffic congestion and conflict among workers." 

The meeting addressed the main issue, which was the conflict between bus workers and CNG drivers over passenger pickup at Majhampur Gate and surrounding areas. It was decided that CNG vehicles would position themselves at Alfar Mor, half a kilometre away from Majhampur Gate, while only CNGs transporting patients would be allowed to enter the city centre. After reaching this agreement, both parties pledged to resume normal vehicle operations. 

Following the meeting, Sharmin Akhter announced that arrangements would be made to resume transportation in areas where it is feasible from the evening.

Earlier on Friday, from 6am, an indefinite bus strike had been initiated by the district's bus, minibus, and microbus owners and workers across all routes in Kushtia.

Notably, on September 3, a dispute between CNG drivers and bus workers over passenger pickup at Majhampur Gate in Kushtia city led to the vandalism of several CNGs and buses. This incident resulted in the suspension of bus services on the Kushtia-Bheramara and Kushtia-Meherpur routes from that day.