Buses stay put at Sayedabad Bus Terminal in the city on Friday as no long-distance vehicles left the capital amid nationwide strike observed by transport owners and workers, protesting a recent hike in fuel prices. On the other hand, roads and flyovers, as seen in this aerial shot, are devoid of public buses, much to the frustration of commuters — FE photo by Shafiqul Alam 
High prices of daily necessaries take another twist for supply disruptions while commuters suffer immensely as transporters go on a nationwide strike in a brusque protest against an abrupt raise in fuel prices.
People were seen walk down to their destinations or haggle with operators of high-fare smaller vehicles as the wildcat transport strike got off to a tumultuous start Friday.
Throngs of people were found waiting at various bus- stoppages in the capital, Dhaka, since early morning to get onto public transports but their efforts went in vain for want of mass transports like buses.
There were, however, myriads of smaller vehicles like manually driven three-wheeler rickshaws and CNG scooters, ridesharing motorbikes as well as private cars ruled the roads.
"Huge rickshaws, auto-rickshaws and bikes even came from outskirts of the city to make some fast bucks amid the transport strike," says a spot account of the scenes.
College admission-seekers and government jobs aspirants were the worst sufferers of the transport halt as many of them failed to reach centres in time.
On the other hand, supply chains of businesses were badly affected because of the sudden strike.
Only buses of very few companies and state-owned Bangladesh Road Transport Corporation (BRTC) were seen on the city streets. Many private cars, rickshaws, CNG-run auto-rickshaws and motorcycles were seen plying the roads.
Transport owners and workers called the countrywide strike sine die from 6:00am on Friday in protest against the latest hike in diesel price that came into effect from Thursday.
Earlier on Wednesday, the government raised diesel price by Tk 15 per litre to Tk80 from Tk 65 in order to "keep them in line with the rising fuel prices on the global market".
Visiting various locations in the capital, the FE correspondents found the scenes.
Talking to the FE, Mohammad Suman who came to Government Kobi Nazrul College said he came 20 minutes late in the exam centre because of hassles while reaching there.
"But the college authorities did not allow me in although I spent Tk 350 to reach the centre by rickshaw. What should I do now?" he asked on a note of frustration.
One such passenger, Alauddin, said that he would have to walk to Sadarghat terminal as there were no buses on the road. "I came to know about the strike only after leaving home for an emergency," he added.
A crowd was also observed at Sayedabad Bus Terminal where people rushed to any mode of transport to go to their respective destination.
Kamal Uddin, who somehow managed to get into a microbus travelling to Bhoirab, said he came to the station at about 7:00am but didn't find any bus.
"I luckily got this micro but it will cost me Tk 500, which is more than double the bus fare, but I have nothing to do," he bemoaned after the transport left the place being chased by too many homebound people.
The scarcity of public transport caused extra pressure of passengers on railway and launch stations, as observed on the day.
The result was obvious: the railway-and launch-terminal authorities faced immense difficulties dealing with the mad flow of people and the rate of standing tickets going up manifold on the day.
However, transport owners hinted at possible transport-fare hike to make up for the latest diesel-price prance.
Talking to the FE, Bangladesh Road Transport Owners' Association Executive President Rustam Ali Khan said they want to resume their business but the government has to either withdraw the hike or readjust the fares to solve the crisis.
Contacted, Khandaker Enayet Ullah, secretary-general of Bangladesh Road Transport Owners' Association, said BRTA invited them for a discussion set for Sunday next.
"We're ready to join to discuss the fare readjustment to reach a solution," he added.
Simultaneously, the launch operators also demanded 100-per cent hike in the fare in line with the fuel-price hike.
Meanwhile, Roads, Highways and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader Friday urged transport owners and workers to call off the strike in view of the public sufferings.
The Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA) would hold a meeting on transport fares Sunday, the minister told a press briefing.
"Discussions would be held with the stakeholders and the authorities would try to adjust the fares keeping the masses in mind," he said.
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