6 tourists beaten by bus staffers

At least six tourists were beaten allegedly by the staffers of a bus in Alipur area on Patuakhali-Kuakata road on Saturday night.

The injured took treatment at 20-bed Kuakata Hospital. They hailed from Dhaka’s Mirpur area. 

The victims include Ratan Khan, Nur Alam, Sumon, Mainuddin and Shafiqul Islam.

Injured tourist Ratan said they all the friends came to Amtali from Dhaka by a launch and then boarded a Kuakata-bound bus.

“When the bus reached Sheikh Kamal Bridge, its helper and supervisor took Tk 50 as fare from us each and then forcibly pushed us off the bus saying that its engine became out of order,” said Ratan.

“The duo then got us on another Kuakata-bound bus named ‘Mayer Doa’ saying that their fare has already been paid,” said Ratan.

“But when the bus was crossing Sheikh Russel Bridge, its supervisor asked us to pay fare but we refused to give it,” he said. 

At the time, the helper, driver and supervisor swooped on them and beat them with sticks, said Ratan.

Md Saidul Islam, officer-in-charge (OC) of Mohipur Police Station, said being informed, Nasir, owner of the bus, and its driver Shahin were called to the police station.

The bus owner bore the treatment cost of the injured tourists and said the driver will be discharged, added the OC.

The staffers of the bus later apologised to the victims, said the police official, adding that no case was filed till filing of this report around 8:00pm yesterday.