A clash erupted between students and bus workers at the Rupatali Minibus Terminal in Barishal city on Tuesday following the harassment of a female student of Government BM College.
The incident led to widespread protests and a transportation strike, causing severe disruptions across several national highways.
The Rupatali Minibus Workers' Union has called for an indefinite transport strike starting Wednesday, citing safety concerns after alleged attacks on their workers and offices.
Meanwhile, students from Barishal University and BM College blocked key highways, including Barishal-Dhaka, Barishal-Patuakhali-Kuakata, Barishal-Bhola-Chattogram, and Barishal-Pirojpur-Khulna routes, demanding justice.
According to a student Hasan, the trouble began when a BM College student, went to the ticket counter of the Classic bus service in Pirojpur�s Bhandaria. She insisted on paying a fair price for the ticket as a student, which led to an altercation with the bus supervisor. The supervisor allegedly harassed her during the dispute.
Upon learning of the incident, fellow students from Barishal University and BM College gathered at Rupatali Bus Terminal when the bus arrived. A heated argument ensued, escalating into a clash. Students reportedly vandalized buses and the workers' union office. The workers retaliated, leaving at least seven students injured, according to witnesses.
The situation escalated further as students blocked national highways, bringing traffic to a standstill and causing significant inconvenience to long-distance travelers. Though the protests were withdrawn around 9:30 PM after discussions, the workers announced an indefinite strike, citing insecurity.
Abul Kalam Chowdhury, General Secretary of the Rupatali Minibus Workers� Union, alleged, �The incident occurred in Bhandaria, but students attacked and vandalized the union office and buses in Rupatali. They also assaulted workers. We have no choice but to call a strike to ensure our safety.�
Bus owner Al Amin clarified that the owners� association was not involved in the strike. "The workers are demanding security, and they will not operate buses until their safety is guaranteed. This type of behavior�targeting the terminal for an incident that happened elsewhere�is unacceptable."
Following the clash, security forces, including army personnel, RAB, and police, were deployed to the Rupatali area. Law enforcement officials held discussions with bus owners and workers' union leaders to resolve the issue.
Pranoy Roy, Assistant Commissioner of Kotwali Model Police Station, stated that efforts are underway to mediate a solution. He refrained from commenting further, stating that an official response would follow once discussions concluded.
As of now, tensions remain high at the Rupatali Minibus Terminal. While students have temporarily withdrawn their protests, the transport strike is set to continue indefinitely, leaving thousands of passengers stranded and uncertain about the resolution.
