Bus services resumed in Habiganj after an eight-hour strike by the bus owners' and workers organizations, who are demanding restrictions on the plying of three-wheelers.
"Upon being assured from the district administration that actions will be taken against the plying of illegal vehicles on the highway, we began our services," said Habiganj district Motor Owner's Group General Secretary Shanka Shuvro Roy.
"We were assured that status of the actions taken against illegal vehicles will be notified to us within next 10 days, Shuvro added.
Earlier on Sunday the bus owners' and workers' associations had suspended bus services in Habiganj from 6am to 2pm.
On Sunday morning, a number of buses were kept lined up in front of the deputy commissioner’s office to press home the demand.
On a visit to the spot that time, this correspondent found that commuters are immensely suffering due to lack of options available to them. Some were seen boarding trucks to reach their destination.
A commuter who works as a labourer, said: "Bus owners suspending their operations has become a regular phenomenon here. If we would have known earlier, I could have opted for an alternative arrangement. Now I will have to bear loss for being late at work."
Earlier on November 18, Habiganj District Motor Owners' Group and the district's Bus Minibus Microbus Sramik Union Samannay Parishad (Bus Minibus Microbus Workers' Union Organizing Council) in a media briefing at the district's Press Club notified about the strike.
Habiganj District Motor Owners' Group GS Shuvro, on Sunday morning, said: "For a long time we have been urging the district administration and police to ensure that plying of three-wheelers and all illegal vehicles are stopped on the highway. However, none paid us any heed.
"Although we issued an ultimatum on November 18, we are not seeing any efforts made in this regard. So we were forced to halt services. All buses will be handed over to the district's deputy commissioner in the afternoon," added Shubho.
During the media briefing on November 18, the bus owners' and workers' organizations had said if the demands are not met, they intend to close their business after handing their vehicles over to the district administration.