Commuters experienced significant hardships on Sunday as the indefinite transport strike in Benapole, led by long-route bus owners, stretched into its second day. No long-distance buses operated between Benapole and Dhaka, leaving passengers stranded.
The transport owners initiated the strike on Saturday in response to a recent municipal decision mandating that transport workers drop passengers 2 kilometers away from the Benapole municipality international check-post.
The government recently constructed a large transport terminal at the Benapole check-post at a cost of Tk 30 crore, aimed at improving immigration and customs procedures and facilitating quicker travel to India. However, the ongoing strike has left many commuters stranded in various areas, with some resorting to easy bikes and local buses to reach Jashore.
Last week, the Jashore deputy commissioner convened a meeting with transport workers to discuss traffic congestion. It was decided that passengers traveling to India would be dropped off at the new municipality terminal, located 2 km from the Benapole check-post.
Passport holders have expressed frustration over the decision, pointing out that while Indian authorities have built a passenger terminal next to their immigration facilities for the convenience of travelers, Bangladesh's terminal—situated 2 km away—has caused significant inconvenience for them.
Bablur Rahman Babu, president of the Long-Route Transport Owners Association, criticized the local administration’s decision, stating, “This sudden decision by the local administration has caused immense difficulties for passengers traveling on long-distance buses, subjecting them to unnecessary harassment.”
In response, Kazi Nazib Hassan, the municipality administrator, explained that long-route buses are allowed to enter the Benapole check-post only between 12 am and 6 am to help alleviate traffic congestion.
(Source: UNB)
BD-Pratidin English/Mazdud
