Thousands of commuters faced severe hardship as bus services on 60 routes from Chittagong remained suspended for eight hours due to wildcat strike enforced by transport workers.
In response of arson and vandalism on the Dhaka-Chittagong Highway took place on Tuesday after the death of a university student in a road accident, the inter-district bus owners’ organisation called the strike.
Inter-district and long-distance bus remained off the roads, said transport owner sources.
For lack of public transport, a number of people were seen waiting for buses at bus stops. But when after a long wait they did not see buses plying, most of them returned home.
People who had emergency started their journey by alternative means counting extra money.
Many people deferred their journey schedule due to the strike, commuters said. Omar Faruk, a businessman, told the Dhaka Tribune that he had to suffer much when he was going to Feni from the port city.
Tymur Jahan Chowdhury, a student at Chittagong University, said: “I could not manage train ticket, so I could not sit for recruitment test in Dhaka,” he said.
Kafil Uddin, executive president of Bangladesh Bus Paribahan Malik Samity, said they observed the strike protesting the arson and vandalism on the highway. “Many of our buses were damaged and set on fire. We are demanding proper actions in this regard,” he said.
Syed Iqbal Ali, assistant superintendent of police of Sitakunda circle of Chittagong range, a few number of vehicles were seen plying on the highway.