Owners-workers feud leaves Rajshahi inter-district buses off roads

Inter-district bus services from Rajshahi have been suspended following an internal dispute between transport owners and workers in Rajshahi and Natore.

The suspension began Friday morning (September 4), affecting buses travelling through Natore to Rangpur division, Dhaka and other destinations, leaving passengers stranded at Rajshahi bus terminal.

The dispute began on Thursday when a bus of Rabbi Paribahan travelling from Rajshahi to Darshana was stopped in Natore by local transport owners and workers. The passengers were reportedly transferred to a Tuhin Paribahan bus and sent on to their destination.

Rajshahi Road Transport Group General Secretary Nazrul Islam Helal said he had heard that bus services through Natore had been suspended and was heading to the bus terminal to assess the situation.

Following the incident, the Rajshahi Motor Workers’ Union and Road Transport Group detained three Tuhin Paribahan buses in Rajshahi.

The buses were later released after the Rabbi Paribahan bus held in Natore was freed.

Despite the release of the vehicles, the Rajshahi district motor workers’ union and Road Transport Group announced a halt to all inter-district bus services from Rajshahi amid the dispute.

Natore District Transport Workers’ Union General Secretary Abdul Majid said the Rabbi Paribahan bus had entered Natore without permission and was therefore sent back to Rajshahi.

He alleged that six or seven Natore-based buses were subsequently detained in Rajshahi, triggering the shutdown of the Rajshahi-Natore route.

Transport owners from Rajshahi and Natore are expected to hold talks to resolve the dispute. Stakeholders hope the services will resume soon following negotiations.