| HEADLINE |
|
Local bus services suspended on Barishal routes
Published : Tuesday, 25 August, 2026 at 1:48 PM
Observer Online Report
Local bus services on several internal routes in Barishal were suspended on Tuesday after Mahindra and CNG-run auto-rickshaw drivers began a strike, accusing the bus owners’ association of arbitrary behaviour and preventing them from picking up passengers.
The three-wheeler drivers took position at the Rahmatpur bus stand on the Dhaka-Barishal highway around 10:00 AM and stopped local buses using the highway. Buses leaving Barishal and those arriving from Bhurghata were stopped and parked on the Mirganj road.
The drivers said a meeting between the two sides, arranged by the administration on Monday, did not take place, prompting them to go on strike.
Mahindra drivers Ali Hossain, Liton Howlader, Sahadat, Faruk and Mostafa alleged that employees of the bus owners’ association beat and verbally abused them when they tried to pick up passengers from the Natullabad bus stand. They also accused the employees of preventing passengers from boarding Mahindra vehicles.
They said they regularly pay taxes to the government to operate their vehicles but are still being subjected to such treatment. The drivers said they would continue the strike until a permanent solution was reached.
The sudden suspension of local bus services caused severe inconvenience to passengers. Many were reportedly forced to get off buses midway, leaving women, children and elderly passengers stranded.
A driver of Shubhechha Paribahan was also allegedly beaten and lost consciousness, according to reports.
Airport Police Station Officer-in-Charge Shakhawat Hossain said he was trying to resolve the dispute by talking to both sides.
“No effective initiative for a settlement has been seen yet. I have discussed the matter with senior officials and further action will be taken according to their instructions,” he said.
SKS
Loading...
Loading...
Also read
Editor : Iqbal Sobhan Chowdhury
Published by the Editor on behalf of the Observer Ltd. from Globe Printers, 24/A, New Eskaton Road, Ramna, Dhaka.
Editorial, News and Commercial Offices : Aziz Bhaban (2nd floor), 93, Motijheel C/A, Dhaka-1000.
Phone: PABX- 41053001-06; Advertisement: 41053012; 01793317829, 01550707291, E-mail: [email protected], [email protected] Online: email: [email protected] 41053014; 01550707297 Advertisement: 01550707296
Published by the Editor on behalf of the Observer Ltd. from Globe Printers, 24/A, New Eskaton Road, Ramna, Dhaka.
Editorial, News and Commercial Offices : Aziz Bhaban (2nd floor), 93, Motijheel C/A, Dhaka-1000.
Phone: PABX- 41053001-06; Advertisement: 41053012; 01793317829, 01550707291, E-mail: [email protected], [email protected] Online: email: [email protected] 41053014; 01550707297 Advertisement: 01550707296
