Bus services on the Rajshahi-Natore route have been suspended since 6am on Friday following a dispute between transport workers in the two districts, leaving passengers stranded at bus terminals.
The suspension was still in effect as of 10:30am, according to reports.
Buses from Rajshahi that travel through Natore to various destinations, including Dhaka and districts in the Rangpur division, were affected by the suspension. Passengers were seen waiting at the Rajshahi bus terminal.
A bus worker, Shamim, said Natore transport workers had forced passengers off a Rajshahi-Darshan bus on Thursday, transferred them to a Natore-bound vehicle and obstructed the bus.
“Following the incident, bus services were suspended on Friday,” he said.
Rajshahi Road Transport Group General Secretary Nazrul Islam Helal said he had heard that bus services had been suspended since the morning.
“I heard that all buses travelling through Natore have been suspended. I am going to the bus terminal,” he said.
However, Natore District Transport Workers Union General Secretary Abdul Majid gave a different account.
He said a bus operated by Rajshahi’s Rabbi Paribahan entered Natore without permission, prompting Natore transport owners and workers to send it back to Rajshahi.
“Later, six or seven buses from Natore were stopped in Rajshahi. Due to this incident, bus services on the Rajshahi-Natore route have been suspended,” he said.
He added that Dhaka-bound coaches were operating normally.