Bus services resume in Chapainawabganj after day-long suspension

Bus services in Chapainawabganj have resumed after remaining suspended for a day due to a dispute between two labour groups over toll collection.

Long-distance and inter-district bus operations restarted in the morning, confirmed Abdur Rouf Julmot, general secretary of the District Motor Workers Union, on Saturday (April 25).

Transport services were halted on Friday after the District Truck, Tank Lorry and Covered Van Workers Union announced a work stoppage, demanding an end to alleged toll collection practices.

The shutdown disrupted inter-district and inter-upazila transport, causing widespread passenger inconvenience.

Workers from both the Truck Workers Union and the Motor Workers Union have long accused each other of collecting illegal tolls from buses, a dispute that escalated in recent weeks.

While one side claims toll collection is being carried out unlawfully on roads outside terminals, the other insists it follows regulations and only collects fees from buses, alleging counter-violations by rival groups.

Police attempted to mediate between the two sides, but no resolution was reached until a late-night meeting facilitated by former MP Latifur Rahman, involving representatives from both groups.

Following the discussions, both parties agreed to withdraw the strike in the interest of public convenience, with a second round of talks scheduled to resolve the toll collection dispute.

By Saturday morning, bus terminals in Chapainawabganj had reopened, with services to Dhaka, Rajshahi and other destinations operating as usual, transport workers said.