A group of bus workers in Barisal have allegedly beaten up a family as they spoke against carrying passengers disobeying the government's directive of 50% occupancy.
The incident happened Friday morning at the city's Rupatoli bus stand.
The injured are Shamim Shikder, 27, Hasnur Begum, 55, Karima, and Munia, 7.
Victim Shamim Shikdar said he had collected tickets for Mothbaria paying extra fare following the government directives but the supervisor was not maintaining the rule and took extra standing passengers.
“As I protested this, 20-25 workers from the bus stand including the assistant and supervisor started thrashing me inside the bus. When my family members went to stop them, they got beaten up as well,” he said.
"They also threw 7-year-old Munia out through the bus window,” said Shamim.
Witnesses said led by supervisor of a Mahmi Paribahan bus, Munna, workers of Rupatoli and Jhalakathi bus owners’ associations beat the family up mercilessly.
All internal-route buses in Barisal disobey the government’s directive and carry extra passengers as the authority does not check it, said locals.
However, General Secretary of Rupatoli Bus Owners’ Association Kawsar Hossain Shipon claimed the workers of Jhalakati bus owners’ association had actually assaulted the family and it happened outside the bus stand.
He said he can only request the Jhalakati association to take action. If he takes action, they will move their buses to Jhalakathi and won’t allow any bus from Barisal to enter Jhalakathi.
Rupatoli Bus Owners’ Association Lines Secretary Jahangir Hossain Shamim said he is aware of the attack and provided the victims with primary treatments.