Commuters suffer as bus strike underway in Sunamganj

A two-day bus strike enforced by Sunamganj District Transport Owners and Workers’ Association began on Friday morning, causing suffering of the commuters.

As the strike was enfoced ahead of BNP’s divisional rally slated for Saturday, the party leaders alleged that the strike was called as per the government’s directive to thwart their political programme.

The association leaders said they are observing the strike to realise their four-point demand, which includes withdrawal of tolls on Lamakazi bridge on the Sunamganj-Sylhet road, banning batter-run three-wheelers and unlicensed CNG-run autorickshaws from the highways, banning BRTC buses and renovation and modernization of Sunamganj Bus Terminal.

BNP’s Sylhet divisional rally, slated at the Government Alia Madrasa field in the city, has been plagued with transport strikes called by several organisations.

Habiganj Motor Owners’ group on Thursday called for an indefinite strike on movement of buses, demanding an end to “administrative harassment” and halting illegal three-wheelers.

On the other hand, Sylhet district Workers’ Solidarity Council called a 12-hour strike from 6:00am to 6:00pm on Saturday on movement of all types of vehicles to press home their four-point demands.

Besides, Sylhet district Road Transport Owners’ Association also called a dawn to dusk strike on Saturday in Sylhet on their two-point demand including for not issuing any new license for CNG-run auto rickshaw.

Fazlur Rahman, president of Habiganj Motor Owners’ group, at a press conference at Habiganj municipality bus terminal on Thursday claimed that there was no link between their strike and the BNP rally.