Bus service from Barisal resumes after 21 days

Plying of passenger buses on six routes from Rupatoli Bus Stand in Barisal city resumed after 21 days yesterday, much to the relief of thousands of passengers in several southern districts.

The vehicular movement had remained stopped from January 2, following a clash between bus owners' associations based in Barisal and Jhalakathi.

The passengers of Barisal-Pirojpur, Barisal-Bhandaria, Barisal-Pathorghata, Barisal-Jhalakathi, Barisal-Amua, Barisal-Khulna routes badly suffered due to the situation.

Following the direction of the divisional administration, the two associations met a couple of times and finally reached a temporary settlement, said Md Bahadur Chaudhury, secretary of Jhalakathi bus workers' union.

“We have resumed bus movement from Ruapatoli ahead of the prime minister's visit to Barisal on February 8. We will again sit with Barisal bus owners' association on February 10 to settle some issues,” said Sardar Mohammad Shah Alam, president of Jhalakathi bus owners' association.