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, reports UNB.
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.
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.
Bd-pratidin English/Tanvir Raihan
