Indefinite bus strike in Kushtia, Khulna, Faridpur routes

KUSHTIA, Apr 07 (UNB): An indefinite strike on Friday halted bus communication from Kushtia to Khulna and Faridpur causing immense suffering to commuters in the region.

Kushtia District Bus Owners and Workers Solidarity Council has enforced the strike since Friday morning protesting the attack on some transport staff by the Jhenaidah workers union on the night of April 5.

Mokbul Hossain Lavlu, general secretary of Kushtia Bus Minibus Owners' Association, said there had long been a dispute with Jhenaidah workers union over bus trips to Faridpur from Kushtia.

Some staff of Kushtia's Gorai Paribahan was beaten up by the workers union over the demand for more trips to Faridpur, he alleged.

Protesting the attack, the wildcat strike was called on the two routes-Kushtia-Khulna and Kushtia-Faridpur, he said.

The transport leader threatened that a countrywide strike will be called unless the attackers are arrested by April 9.

On the other hand, commuters have been facing severe sufferings caused by the sudden strike in the three districts.