Bus communication on 15 routes suspended from Barisal
Bus communication on 15 routes of the country's southern region from Barisal was suspended yesterday morning, causing public suffering on the routes.
This situation was reportedly created as part of a long-time conflict between bus owners' associations of Barisal and Jhalakati.
As a result, direct bus communication to Khulna, Pirojpur, Patuakhali, Barguna, Bagerhat and Jhalakati from Barishal has remained stopped.
“I needed to travel to Barisal from Barguna, but could not because of the bus strike,” one Dhiman Sarkar told The Daily Star.
Bus communication from Barisal through Jhalakathi had remained suspended on previous occasions due to disagreements between the bus owners' associations, but divisional and district administrations had succeeded to resume bus operation from June 13 ahead of Eid-Ul-Fitr through mediation.
However, the conflict has resurfaced after the Eid holidays between the two bodies, resulting in the bus communication disruption since 11:00am.
Kawsar Hossain Shipon, secretary of Barishal Patuakhali Minibus Owners' Association, said they have stopped bus operation after their staff members were beaten up by workers of Jhalakati bus association.
Golam Rouf Khan, deputy police commissioner of Barisal Metropolitan Police, said the Jhalakathi Bus Owners' Association had agreed in a meeting three months ago to resolve the crises on their end, but they did not follow through. He said the district administration is aware of the disruption, and steps will be taken to resolve it.
Representatives of Jhalakathi Bus Owners' Association could not be reached for comment.
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