Rajshahi bus services remain suspended as workers ignore administration request

Rajshahi bus strike continues as workers have kept inter-district bus services between Rajshahi and the rest of the country suspended, ignoring a request from the district administration. The suspension came into effect from Monday night following a dispute over elections to the Rajshahi District Motor Workers' Union. However, the owners' side has said they will try to resume normal bus services.

It has been learned that a large section of workers have been agitating for a long time demanding elections to the Rajshahi District Motor Workers' Union. They had been demanding the formation of an election management committee through a general meeting. In this regard, a meeting was held with workers' leaders at the deputy commissioner's office on Monday afternoon.

At the meeting, one faction of workers proposed forming an election management committee through a general meeting, but Deputy Commissioner Kazi Shahidul Islam said it was not possible to organise a general meeting in the current situation. He proposed forming an election management committee comprising the administration, police and stakeholders.

Rejecting this proposal, a section of workers announced the suspension of bus services from the meeting itself. Later, from 8pm, inter-district bus services from Rajshahi came to a halt. Although a few scheduled long-haul buses left for their destinations at night, workers said all bus services would remain suspended from Tuesday morning.

After the meeting, tension erupted between the two sides in the Shirol Bus Terminal area. At this time, allegations were raised of vandalism and looting at the personal chamber of Nazrul Islam Helal, general secretary of Rajshahi Road Transport Group.

Workers' leader Mominul Islam Momin alleged that the deputy commissioner had favoured one side instead of maintaining a neutral position. Workers were forced to keep bus services suspended because their demand for forming an election management committee through a general meeting was ignored and steps were taken to form a committee by including Nazrul Islam Helal.

However, denying these allegations, Deputy Commissioner Kazi Shahidul Islam said it was not possible to organise a general meeting in the current situation. Efforts are underway to resolve the dispute peacefully and restore normal bus services quickly.

Nazrul Islam Helal, general secretary of Rajshahi Road Transport Group, said differences of opinion can arise in meetings, but keeping bus services suspended or attacking and vandalising because of that is not acceptable in any way. The owners' side is in favour of keeping bus services operational.