Students suffer the most amid no public transport

The indefinite strike called by transport workers in Sylhet, which brought immense suffering to city residents, especially students, has been postponed till January 5 next year.

Abu Sarker, acting president of Road Transport Workers Federation's Sylhet divisional committee, said they took the decision after a meeting with Sylhet Divisional Commissioner Muhammad Mosarraf Hossain at 9:30pm yesterday.

"He assured us of meeting our demands," Sarker said.

With their five-point demand, transport workers in the division started their strike from morning. Their demands included holding the triennial election of Sylhet's District Auto-tempo and Auto-rickshaw Workers Federation regularly; dropping cases against district bus and minibus transport workers, and ending police "harassment" on highways.

Meanwhile, all modes of public transport -- including buses, CNG-run three-wheelers, and goods-carrying vehicles -- were off the roads since 6:00am.

As a result, residents, especially Secondary School Certificate (SSC) and National University honours examinees, as they could not find any mode of transport other than a few rickshaws.

Antara Fariha, an honours examinee of MC College, said, "I started for the exam centre an hour prior to my usual time, since I knew about the transport strike. But I was still 10 minutes late."

Meanwhile, no long-distance or inter-district public transport left or entered Sylhet since morning. The situation was similar in each of the division's four districts.

Around 9:30am, this correspondent found banker Hossain Ahmed waiting at Sylhet Bus Terminal. He was looking to board a vehicle to his office at Goala Bazar in Osmaninagar upazila.

He said though he was aware of the strike and prepared in advance, he would still not be able to get to his office in time.

Throughout the day, transport workers gathered at various points along the roads and were seen obstructing all types of vehicles, including private ones. They also parked trucks and buses in the middle of streets to restrict vehicular movement.

Fortunately for some passengers, a group of bikers extended their support to examinees and people in emergency need.

Kothae Jaben Ride Sharing Group, Save Sylhet and Sylhet Bikers Club along with some individual ride-sharing drivers offered free rides for examinees in the morning.

Zakaria Ahmed, organising secretary of the federation, said they submitted a memorandum containing their demands to the authorities on November 9.

As no action was taken, the transport workers went on strike, he said.