Capital city commuters are facing immense sufferings since Saturday morning as the buses of all roads in the city stayed off the streets ahead of the opposition’s much-hyped Dhaka March programme for Sunday.
People were seen to commuting in rickshaws, human-haulers, CNG-run auto-rickshaws and battery-run three-wheelers with higher fares than usual.
A number of passengers were also seen in rickshaw-vans while many more on foot.
Dhaka has been cut off from rest of the nation as transport owners and workers in different districts Friday suspended the Dhaka-bound transports fearing sabotage ahead of opposition’s Dhaka March programme slated for December 29.
Some of the transport owners claimed they took the decision for the sake of safety of the passengers while some said they were instructed from the higher authority to do so. The opposition leaders highly condemned the move calling it a conspiracy of the government to foil their Dhaka March programme.
BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia announced the programme on December 24 calling upon people from all walks of life to march towards Dhaka carrying the national flag to press home their demand for having the next national election under a non-party neutral administration.
Pro-Awami League owners and workers suspended operation of the buses and launches on several routes while many others were ‘forced’ to stop the services.