Long-distance bus services on all routes suspended from Barishal

Mosharraf Hossain, President of Barishal Bus Owners Association, has said long-distance bus services on all routes from Barishal have been suspended due to the movement of bus owners and workers in Barishal demanding a ban on the movement of three-wheelers and illegal vehicles on the highways.

Bus owners and workers started the movement from noon on Monday (August 24). Since then long-distance bus services from Barishal to Dhaka and various other destinations have remained suspended.

Mosharraf Hossain said bus owners are doing business by paying revenue to the government and following the rules. But due to the movement of illegal vehicles and three-wheelers on the highways the number of passengers in buses has decreased while accidents have also increased.

He said after several meetings with the three-wheeler owners association and workers a written decision had been taken regarding their movement. But the three-wheeler drivers are not obeying that decision. They are blocking the bus counters and picking up passengers and travelling from the city to various upazilas. He also alleged that even after being forbidden they are misbehaving with the counter staff.

Mosharraf Hossain further said accidents have increased due to the movement of illegal vehicles and three-wheelers on the highways. Although the matter has been informed in writing and verbally several times to the concerned government departments, no solution has been reached. Bus services will remain suspended until the demand is implemented.

Meanwhile, passengers of various destinations from Barishal have fallen into trouble due to the sudden suspension of bus services.

Passengers said such a movement should not be carried out by holding ordinary passengers hostage. According to them, the problem should be solved by discussing with the government through movement in other ways without suspending bus services.

They said long-distance passengers have to travel by bus due to necessity. But they have fallen into trouble as the buses are suspended after coming to the terminal. They demanded that the problem be solved quickly through discussion and bus services be normalized.