At least seven people, including the driver of the Jagannath University (JnU) student bus Ulka 4, were injured in an attack on Sunday.
The incident occurred near the Mohakhali Bus Terminal, where drivers and helpers of Akota Transport buses launched the attack.
According to witness students, the JnU bus reached the U-turn area in Mohakhali and found an Akota bus blocking the road, causing a traffic jam.
This prevented the JnU bus and other vehicles from moving forward.
When the Akota bus was asked to clear the road, an argument broke out between the JnU bus driver and the Akota bus driver.
The argument escalated, and about 50 drivers and helpers from the Mohakhali Bus Terminal attacked the JnU bus and the students it was carrying using bricks, sticks, and other weapons, the students claimed.
One student said: "When we asked the Akota driver not to stand idle on the road for too long, the driver attacked our bus driver with a stick. When they tried to take him away, we protested, and they started throwing bricks and beating us with sticks."
The driver of the JnU bus, Jagadish, said: "In Mohakhali, an Akota bus was blocking the road in front of us. Despite being repeatedly asked to move, they did not.
“Instead, their driver and helper got out with sticks and attacked us. Many other Akota employees joined in the attack. They broke my hand, injured my entire body, and hit my eye. I demand justice."
Regarding the incident, JnU Transport Administrator Professor Dr Md Omar Faruq said: "Our driver Jagadish is severely injured. We are uncertain if his eye will recover. Several of our students have also been injured. Such attacks on university buses are unacceptable."
He further said: "After the incident, the driver and helper of the Akota bus fled. The owners of Akota Transport have come forward, and we are discussing the matter with them. They also want a resolution. We are working to ensure no such attack occurs on JnU buses or any other university bus. We hope to reach a solution."
Comments from Akota Transport authorities were unavailable at the time of writing.
