বাংলাAn indefinite transport strike has begun on the Habiganj-Sylhet route amid a dispute between transport owners and workers from Habiganj and Moulvibazar over bus operations. From early Thursday (October 1), public transport services on internal routes in Habiganj as well as several long-distance routes have remained suspended, causing severe inconvenience to passengers.
The strike was called by the Habiganj Motor Owners Group, with various vehicle owners’ and workers’ associations in the district expressing solidarity. The programme was announced in protest after three buses from Habiganj were reportedly detained in Sreemangal, Moulvibazar.
Reason Behind Habiganj Transport Strike
Habiganj Motor Owners Group General Secretary Abu Moin Chowdhury Sohel said a dispute has been continuing for a long time between transport owners and workers of the two districts over bus operations on the Habiganj-Sreemangal-Moulvibazar-Sherpur-Sylhet route.
He said a meeting at the Sylhet Divisional Commissioner’s office on June 12 decided that buses would operate as before on the Habiganj-Sylhet route via Moulvibazar. However, Habiganj buses would not be allowed to stop at Sreemangal for passenger pickup or drop-off.
According to Sohel, 22 Habiganj buses were detained by SMS owners and workers in Moulvibazar on September 11. Later, a meeting was held at the central office of the Bangladesh Road Transport Owners Association in Dhaka on September 20, where an agreement was reached to operate buses according to the June 12 decision.
Three Buses Detained
Sohel said that when bus services resumed on September 24 on the Habiganj-Sylhet route via Moulvibazar, the SMS authorities in Moulvibazar detained three Habiganj buses. He claimed the buses have not yet been released. As a result, the Habiganj transport strike was called for an indefinite period.
He said their demand is for Habiganj buses to operate without obstruction under the previous agreement. According to him, the Habiganj transport strike will continue until the dispute is resolved.
Moulvibazar Leader Rejects Allegations
Abdur Rahim Ripon, general secretary of the Moulvibazar district BNP and president of the SMS Bus Owners Association, denied the allegations. He claimed that efforts were underway to resolve the dispute when people associated with the Habiganj Motor Owners Group attacked and vandalised an SMS transport counter in Sreemangal.
Ripon said several workers were injured and admitted to hospital, with one reportedly in an intensive care unit. He also said the buses were being held by workers in Sreemangal and a case had been filed with the police.
He called for both sides to sit together to resolve the dispute. Meanwhile, the ongoing Habiganj transport strike has disrupted public transport services and caused significant hardship for passengers travelling on internal and inter-district routes.
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