Play store
Inter-district bus services in Rajshahi have been suspended after transport workers rejected a proposal by the deputy commissioner (DC) on forming an election management committee for the Rajshahi District Motor Workers’ Union.
The strike began at 8:00 pm on Monday (July 13). Although a few long-distance buses left Rajshahi overnight, no buses departed from the city’s Nowdapara and Shiroil bus terminals on Tuesday morning.
Most union members have been demanding elections for several months, leading to a split among workers.
On April 23, clashes broke out between rival groups, with allegations that former acting general secretary of the union and city Sramik Dal convener Rafiqul Islam Pakhi and his supporters carried out bomb attacks at the terminal.
Later, the Bangladesh Road Transport Federation announced a new committee headed by Pakhi as president. Opposing workers rejected the committee and staged several strikes in May, after which the DC assured them that elections would be held after Eid.
On Monday afternoon, Deputy Commissioner Kazi Shahidul Islam held a meeting with labour leaders to discuss the election process. Rajshahi Road Transport Group General Secretary Nazrul Islam Helal was also present.
At the meeting, workers opposing Helal and Pakhi demanded that the election management committee be formed through a general meeting of union members.
However, the DC said holding such a meeting was not feasible at this stage and instead proposed a committee comprising representatives of the administration, police and Helal.
The proposal was rejected by the opposing faction, which walked out of the meeting and announced the suspension of bus services.
Tension later flared at the Shiroil Bus Terminal, where Helal alleged that his private office was vandalised and looted.
