Indefinite bus strike begins in Gaibandha, Rangpur

Bus workers went on an indefinite strike on all the routes of Rangpur and Gaibandha districts on Sunday, demanding a change in the draft road transport law.

Gaibandha District Motor Workers' Union enforced the strike in the morning to press for the demand to drop the provision of death sentence from the proposed law for deliberate killing in road accidents, reports UNB.

Union President said Abdur Rashid Sarkar said they will continue the strike until a change is made to the bill which was placed in parliament on Thursday last.

Habibar Rahman Nannu, a leader of district Bus Owners' Association, said bus drivers and workers went on the strike for an indefinite period abruptly. "We're trying to settle the matter," he said.

No long route bus left the district town since the morning, creating immense sufferings to the commuters.

Many passengers were seen standing on the bus stand.

Following the shortage of buses, people thronged different train stations to reach their destinations by trains.

In Rangpur, the bus communication of the district with Kurigram, Nilphamari and Gaibandha remained suspended since the morning as the bus workers went on the indefinite strike.

Akter Hossain Badal, president of District Road Transport and Workers Federation, said the bus drivers stayed off the road protesting the draft Road Transport Bill.

Following the strike, no bus plied on the routes from Rangpur.