Labour dispute halts all bus services in Chapainawabganj

Bus services on all routes from Chapainawabganj have been suspended following a dispute between two transport workers’ organisations, leaving passengers stranded and disrupting inter-district travel.

No buses left the district on Thursday morning (August 21) as tensions between the two groups escalated. A large number of passengers were seen waiting at the Chapainawabganj bus terminal, while some were forced to seek alternative transport to reach their destinations.

According to the district Bus Owners’ Association, the dispute stems from tensions between transport workers in Chapainawabganj and those from the Haripur area. The two sides had reportedly been in conflict for several days.

Nannu Mia, general secretary of the Chapainawabganj Bus Owners’ Association, said several workers employed in the district were allegedly beaten by workers from Haripur two days ago. The incident intensified the dispute between the two labour organisations and eventually led to the suspension of bus services.

"Bus services on all routes have been suspended because of the dispute between the workers. Discussions are underway with the concerned parties to resolve the situation," he said.

The suspension has particularly affected long-distance and inter-district passengers. Many travellers with urgent commitments have been forced to use alternative modes of transport, often at higher fares.

Passengers have urged the authorities and the transport organisations to resolve the dispute quickly and restore bus services across the district.