A 48-hour transport strike initiated by the Brihattor Chattogram Ganaparibahan Malik Sramik Oikkyo Parishad began this morning (April 28, 2024), significantly disrupting daily life in the port city amidst a severe heatwave. The strike, which affects buses, minibuses, human haulers, autorickshaws, and other three-wheelers, has led to considerable difficulties for commuters across the city. Impact on Commuters From early in the morning, commuters, including office workers, students, and senior citizens, were seen waiting for long periods at several points in the port city due to the scarcity of mass transportation. The streets showed a markedly decreased traffic flow, with most vehicles off the roads in response to the strike call. Transport workers confirmed that no long-distance buses departed from Chattogram today. Md Musa, the member secretary of the transport body, stated that movement of buses and three-wheeler vehicles has been suspended since 6 am. Buses from other parts of the country are also prohibited from entering Chattogram during the strike period. MV Abdullah leaving UAE for Bangladesh today Background of the Strike The strike was called following an incident where students of the Chittagong University of Engineering and Technology (CUET) reportedly set buses on fire in protest after two of their peers were killed in a road accident. The students, Shanto Saha and Tawfiq Hasan, both from the Civil Engineering department, died when a bus hit their motorbike on the Chattogram-Kaptai road on April 22. In retaliation, some CUET students vandalized three buses and set another on fire. The protests escalated over the following days, leading to the university's closure and the postponement of academic activities. Demands and Protests The transport workers' strike is a protest against the damage inflicted on their vehicles and calls for compensation for the burnt buses, along with the arrest of the accused students. The strike encompasses Chattogram city, district, Cox’s Bazar, and three hilly districts. It aims to press home a four-point demand, emphasizing the need for justice and reparations from the damages incurred during the student protests. Emergency Services Exempt Despite the widespread disruption, the strike organizers say that emergency vehicles, including ambulances, will not be affected by the strike. The transport strike is scheduled to conclude at 6 am on Tuesday. Water crisis adds to woes of Khulna residents amid extreme heat University Response and Continued Tensions The CUET administration attempted to quell the unrest by meeting with the protesting students, who assured they would halt their demonstrations and return to academic activities. However, following an emergency syndicate committee meeting on April 26, CUET authorities decided to keep the campus closed until May 9.

The 'Shalish Samannay Committee' of Greater Jaintia's 17 Pargana announced an indefinite transport strike for all types of transport movement on Sylhet-Tamabil road from 6 am on Monday (July 10) in the wake of the death of five people in a road accident in Sylhet's Jaintapur on last Friday (July 7). The leaders of the committee took the decision at a meeting on Sunday (July 9) afternoon. Moinul Islam, president of Sylhet District Bus-Minibus Workers Union, confirmed the matter. Read more: Heavy rains may trigger short-term flood in Sylhet, Sunamganj Jaintapur Upazila Parishad Chairman and Upazila Awami League President Kamal Ahmed said, "According to the decision of the Arbitration Committee, no bus-minibus will be allowed to ply on the Sylhet-Tamabil highway from Monday. However, other vehicles will run normally."

The transport strike called from Thursday to protest against the plying of government BRTC buses on the Sylhet-Zakiganj route has been withdrawn. Transport owners and workers' leaders announced the withdrawal of the strike after an emergency meeting at the deputy commissioner’s office on Wednesday. Ziaul Kabir Palash, general secretary of the District’s Road Transport Owners' Association, said the decision was taken unanimously at a meeting held at the deputy commissioner's conference room to give five trips of BRTC buses up and down on the Sylhet-Zakiganj route. According to the decision, these four buses of BRTC will run on this route, he said. Based on the opinions of both the parties, the strike was called off by the owners and workers on the Sylhet-Zakiganj route, he said. Earlier on Sunday, owners and workers at the the District Road Transport Owners Association office threatened to enforce an indefinite transport strike from March 9 in protest against the plying of BRTC buses on the Sylhet-Zakiganj road.

Five hours after enforcing an indefinite strike, Sylhet District Transport Oikya Parishad called off their strike on Monday upon assurance from the local administration about meeting their demand. They went on strike demanding the release of Chhatra Dal leader Ali Akbor Rajon who was arrested in a sabotage case. They withdrew their strike around 11am, said Mainul Islam, president of Bus-Minibus Workers' Union. He said the transport strike has been suspended due to the assurance from the administration. Read more: Indefinite transport strike in Sylhet from tomorrow The transport services already resumed in the district. On Sunday, Sylhet District Transport Oikya Parishad called for an indefinite strike starting from 6am today (Monday). "Ali Akbor Rajon has been in jail for one and a half months as he was denied bail. The strike will continue until he is granted bail," Mainul added. Rajon has been involved in the politics of Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and he is the joint general secretary of Sylhet District Chhatra Dal. Read more: BNP's Sylhet rally plagued with transport strike He is also the joint general secretary of the Bus-Minibus Workers Union Committee. On 7 December, 2022, police arrested Rajon from the Surma Market area of the town in a sabotage case lodged in 2018.  

Sylhet District Transport Oikya Parishad has called for an indefinite strike starting from tomorrow (Monday, January 23, 2023) to demand the release of Chhatra Dal leader Ali Akbor Rajon who was arrested in a sabotage case. Mainul Islam, president of Bus-Minibus Workers' Union, confirmed the announcement on Sunday (January 22, 2023). The strike will extend throughout the division from Tuesday (January 24, 2023), he added. During the strike, the movement of all vehicles including bus, minibus, cng-run auto rickshaw, leguna and truck will remain suspended, said the transport leader. Read More: Dhaka court dismisses BNP’s complaint against DB chief, 9 others over ‘vandalising Nayapaltan office’ "Ali Akbor Rajon has been in jail for one and a half months as he was denied bail. The strike will continue until he is granted bail," Mainul added. Rajon has been involved with the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and he is the joint general secretary of Sylhet District Chhatra Dal. He is also the joint general secretary of the Bus-Minibus Workers Union Committee. On 7 December, 2022, police arrested Rajon from the Surma Market area of the town in a sabotage case lodged in 2018. Read more: Sylhet fuel traders declare indefinite strike from Jan 18

Opposition BNP activists across Rajshahi division started gathering at Madrasa Ground in the city  from Wednesday to attend the party’s divisional rally defying a transport strike.The rally is slated for Saturday (December 3) but  activists from the opposition party started arriving early as Rajshahi Divisional Road Transport Owners' Association threatened to enforce an indefinite strike in all eight districts of Rajshahi division from December 1. “As the transport movement was suspended on Thursday it took me 12 hours to reach Rajshahi city from my home in Sariakandi upazila by auto rickshaw, and foot amid obstruction from police throughout the difficult journey,” Tabibur Rahman, a 60-year old BNP activist told UNB.Read more: Ahead of BNP rally in Rajshahi, commuters bear the brunt of transport strikeTabibur who fell sick after reaching Rajshahi and was admitted to Rajshahi Medical College and Hospital said, “I’ve taken the trouble to come only to protest against all the irregularities of the government.”Meanwhile, on Thursday night hundreds of BNP activists from different upazilas, districts of Rajshahi entered the city with processions. Most of them reached the rally venue by auto rickshaws,  trucks, pickup vans, train and on foot.

Commuters are bearing the brunt of the indefinite strike enforced by transport owners in all eight districts of Rajshahi division – to press home their 10-point demand – ahead of BNP’s December 3 rally in Rajshahi city. Movement of all types of vehicles, except private cars and microbuses, remains halted in the city since this morning – causing immense sufferings to the commuters.   Though only a BRTC bus left the Rajshahi Bus Terminal, other bus counters were found closed. Ashraful Islam, who was waiting for transport in the city’s Talaymari intersection, told the UNB correspondent that he will have to pay extra fare to go to Bogura through Natore. “Commuters like me are the worst sufferers due to the strike,” he observed.  Matiur Hoque Titu, general secretary of Rajshahi Road Transport Group, said no bus left from Rajshahi and entered from other parts of the country as the strike is on.    Read more: Transport strike in Rajshahi ahead of Saturday’s BNP rally In Natore, presence of all types of public transport is very thin, while commuters were seen standing by the road. Some commuters were seen rushing to their destinations, taking CNG-run autorickshaws. Rajshahi Divisional Transport Owners’ Association has enforced the strike since this morning, following a decision taken from a joint meeting at the office of Rajshahi Road Transport Group on Wednesday. They claimed that the strike has no link with BNP’s rally, as they gave an ultimatum to meet their demands earlier.   On November 26, the Divisional Transport Owners and Workers Solidarity Council gave an ultimatum to the authorities concerned to meet their 10-point demand by November 30. They called the strike for various demands including scrapping the Road Transport Act 2018 and banning movement of illegal three-wheelers and battery-run autorickshaws on highways by November 30. On the other hand, leaders and activists of BNP have started gathering at the rally venue, Madrasa Field, after law enforcers gave permission for the rally on eight conditions on Wednesday.   Ruhul Quddus Dulu, an organising secretary of the BNP and coordinator of the rally organising committee, said the party activists will stay at the rally venue from today and return home after making it a success. BNP on September 27 announced a series of public rallies in 10 divisional and major cities. The party began the rallies by holding the first one in Chattogram on October 12. Read more: Water transport workers withdraw indefinite strike Transport owners and workers called strikes ahead of all the rallies in various cities, except in Chattogram and Cumilla. BNP will end its divisional rallies through a mass gathering in Dhaka city on December 10.  

Transport owners will enforce an indefinite strike beginning at 6:00 am on Thursday in all eight districts of Rajshahi division to press home for various demands ahead of the BNP’s rally on Saturday.   The main opposition BNP said that the strike was called to spoil their rally, but the transport owners rejected the allegation. Safakat Manjur, president of Rajshahi Divisional Transport Owners’ Association, said they took the decision following a joint meeting at the office of Rajshahi Road Transport Group on Wednesday. The strike has no link with the BNP’s rally as they gave an ultimatum to meet their demands earlier, he said.    Read more: BNP gears up for Saturday’s rally in Rajshahi On November 26, the Divisional Transport Owners and Workers Solidarity Council gave an ultimatum to the authority concerned to meet their 10-point demand by November 30. They had threatened to go for the indefinite strike from December 1 if the demands were not met by the deadline. Safkat said they called the strike for various demands including the scrapping of the Road Transport Act 2018 and the ban on movement of illegal three-wheelers and battery-driven auto-rickshaws on highways by November 30. He said all types of passenger and goods carrying vehicles will remain under purview of the strike. “We will call off the strike if any assurance comes in favour of our demands”, he said.   Ruhul Quddus Talukder Dulu, an organising secretary of the BNP and coordinator of the mass rally committee, said the strike was called to refrain the leaders and activists from joining the rally.    He said that the rally would be organised successfully at any cost. The BNP on September 27 announced a series of public rallies in 10 divisional and big cities. The party began the rallies by holding the first one in Chattogram on October 12.  Transport owners and workers called strikes ahead of all the rallies in various cities, except in Chattogram and Cumilla. The BNP will end its divisional rallies through a mass gathering in Dhaka city on December 10. Read more: No transport strike during BNP’s Dhaka rally: Obaidul Quader

Road Transport and Bridges Minister and Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader urged fromer shipping minister and transport labour leader Shajahan Khan to ensure no transport strike given during BNP’s rally in Dhaka on December 10. He made the call while addressing the tri-annual conference of Dinajpur Awami League at Gor-e-Shaheed field in Duinapur city on Monday. Read: BNP's rally the cue for Rajshahi transport owners to strike He said no obstruction will be given during BNP’s rally but if any chaos occurs it will be protested. He said the date of Bangladesh Chhatra League’s (BCL) central council was changed only for the BNP rally. Adressin BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam he said, “Come to Dinajpur and see what a rally is called. Come and see the difference between a river and sea wave as you keep speaking about people’s huge crowd in every rally,” Read: BNP’s Sylhet rally plagued with transport strike He said that the game will be on from next December. “This time the game will be against corruption, against Hawa Bhaban, against vote theft, against those who have smuggled crores of taka abroad. The game will be about election, and movement. No more unfair elections will be held like February 15,” said Obaidul Quader.

Transport workers in Snamganj have enforced an indefinite strike, demanding a new bus terminal and stopping alleged harassment by police. The strike began following an announcement by Sunamganj District Workers’ Union on Thursday night, according to which all the long-route buses suspended their operations. Visiting the old bus terminal of the district, UNB found that all the bus counters were closed. The terminal was deserted as all the buses had been shifted from there, and commuters who had bought advance tickets were getting their money back from the bus operators. “We don’t have a place to park our buses. The old terminal can’t accommodate the increasing number of buses. We have to park our vehicles beside roads, and we get harassed by the police for this. That’s why we’ve enforced the strike to find a solution,” said Sejaul Kabir, President of the workers’ union. He said the police often take their buses in the name of handling traffic congestion. Read: Transport strike in Habiganj rolls into 4th day Police refuted the allegations. “Three buses of Hanif, Mamun and Shakil Paribahan are currently in the police lines due to breaking traffic rules and a lack of legal documents. The transport strike enforced by bus operators is unacceptable,” said Mohammad Ehsan Shah, Superintendent of Police (SP) of Sunamganj. “We’re trying our best so that passengers don’t have to suffer because of the strike,” he said.