Buses go off 14 SW routes from today

Khulna-Barisal Divisional Road Transport Owners' and Workers' Association has called for an indefinite bus strike on 14 routes of south-western region from today to press home their four-point demand.

The demands are withdrawal of state-owned BRTC buses from all the 14 routes, withdrawal of all cases filed by BRTC against owners and workers of private buses plying the routes of Bagerhat, Jhalakathi and Barisal, stoppage of long route (inter-district) buses at the main terminal of the respective district as per terms and conditions of route permit issued by Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA) and withdrawal of human haulers (Nasimon and Karimon) from these routes.

Meanwhile, Manager (Operation) of BRTC Khulna bus depot Nihar Ranjan Majumder sent letters yesterday to the deputy commissioners of Khulna, Bagerhat, Satkhira, Barisal, Pirojpur and Jhalakati, seeking their cooperation for ensuring security of passengers and protection of the state-owned buses during the strike.

When contacted, Nihar Ranjan said private bus owners are conspiring to stop BRTC bus services in the south-western region with a motive to fleece the passengers.

Denying the allegation, President of Rupsha-Bagerhat Bus and Minibus Owners' Association Molla Anwarul Islam said they will enforce the strike on 14 routes of the south-western region to realise their four-point demand “BRTC authorities have no right to hamper our business,” he said.

Our Barisal correspondent adds: Bus owners and workers from Pirojpur, Jhalakathi, Bhola, Patuakhali, Barguna and Barisal have extended their support to the strike call given by Khulna-Barisal Divisional Road Transport Owners' and Workers' Association on 14 routes from today.

Azizur Rahman Shahin, president of Barisal Mini-bus Owners Association, said they have been incurring huge losses due to plying of BRTC buses and human haulers on 14 routes in Khulna and Barisal divisions.