People the sufferers

Barisal, Patuakhali and Barguna bus owners and workers' associations yesterday called an indefinite strike in all 17 routes, causing immense sufferings to hundreds of commuters, report our Barisal and Patuakhali correspondents. 

The strike was called protesting extortion in Chandukhali area on Barisal-Barguna via Mirzaganj route, said Mizanur Rahman, executive president of Patuakhali Bus Owners' Association.

Abul Hossain of Patuakhali Sadar upazila came to Patuakhali bus terminal early in the morning with his family members to go to Barisal Sher-e-Bangla Medical College Hospital to visit an ailing relative. But he fell in trouble due to the strike.

Monirul Islam of Galachipa upazila returned to Patuakhali town from Dhaka by a launch and when he came to the bus terminal to go to his village home, he became frustrated knowing of the strike.

A gang led by some Abdul Barek Shikder extorts money from buses owned by Barisal and Patuakhali associations, said Mizanur.

They formed an association named 'Mirzaganj Bus Owners' Association' on February 28 this year and since then they have been disrupting movement of buses on Barisal to Barguna via Mirzaganj-Chandukhali route, he said.

Shikder, president of Mirzaganj Bus Owners' Association, said they formed the association in 2005 and since then they are operating local buses from Khalishakhali to Kathaltali in Mirzaganj upazila, considering people's sufferings.

He refuted the allegation of collecting extortion from buses.

Patuakhali Deputy Commissioner Masumur Rahman said he asked both groups to resolve the matter following a discussion.

Meanwhile, a huge number of people suffered a lot as movement of buses from Barisal to Jhalakathi, Pirojpur, Bahandaria, Mathbaria, Bagerhat, Khulna, Patuakhali and Barguna has been stopped due to the strike.