A Correspondent:
Barishal: Owners and workers suspended bus services on six routes from Char Kauwa Bus Terminal in Barishal Sadar upazila on Monday, demanding a ban on three-wheelers and battery-run auto-rickshaws on roads.
Char Kauwa Bus Owners’ and Workers’ Union enforced the strike in the morning, halting bus operations from the terminal and causing severe hardship for passengers.
According to the authorities concerned, around 70 buses operate daily on six routes from the terminal, including DC Road, Laxmipasha, Laharhat, Katadia, Halta and Siddik Bazar.
Several thousand passengers use these routes every day.
With bus services suspended, many passengers were forced to use motorcycles and rickshaws, paying higher fares.
Passengers complained that they had to pay higher fares to reach their destinations using alternative transport. They also urged the authorities concerned to look into the issue of bus strikes occurring every few days.
Sohrab Hossain Howlader, a passenger travelling from Barishal to Nehalganj, said he was being asked to pay extra fares because of the suspension of bus services.
Another passenger, Amena Khatun, said she arrived at Char Kauwa Bus Terminal to travel to her destination but found that bus services had been suspended, leaving her with no option but to use alternative transport at a higher cost.
The dispute reportedly began on Sunday between bus owners and owners of three-wheelers and battery-run auto-rickshaws at the terminal.
Bus owners and workers demanded the removal of three-wheelers from the roads, alleging that their growing presence and competition with buses were increasing the risk of road accidents.
They also claimed that three-wheelers were operating alongside buses, creating frequent safety concerns, and called for an immediate ban on their movement on the roads.
Char Kauwa Bus Owners’ Association General Secretary Md Swapan Hossain said they went on the strike as three-wheeler and auto-rickshaw drivers obstructed bus operations.
He sought the administration’s intervention to resolve the dispute.
On the other hand, protesting three-wheeler and auto-rickshaw drivers said they were operating their vehicles in accordance with existing regulations.
They alleged that bus drivers were repeatedly making various accusations against them every few days.
