Commuters suffer due to indefinite strike in Pabna

An indefinite transport strike began in Pabna on Thursday morning disrupting road link between Dhaka and Pabna via Shahzadpur, Ullapara and Sirajganj over transport workers’ unrest.

The strike started from 6:00am. Bus services to and from Pabna came to a halt, causing immense suffering to thousands of passengers.

Sources said a hitch has developed between drivers and helpers of Sabbir Paribahon of Shahzadpur and Razdut Paribahan of Pabna over plying their buses on the Pabna-Shahzadpur route. As a sequel to the dispute, the workers of Razdut Paribahan beat up Sumon, a worker of Sabbir Paribahan in Shahzadpur on January 12.

Angered by the incident the transport workers of Shahzadpur assaulted the drivers of two Dhaka-bound buses coming from Pabna and vandalised several buses the same day.  Then, the buses were prevented from going to Dhaka, and instead forced to go back to Pabna from Shahzadpur bus stand area. The direct bus services between Dhaka and Pabna via Shahzadpur-Ullapara-Sirajganj route has since remained suspended.

While contacted, Firoz Khan, President of Pabna Transport Workers Association, said a meeting between the leaders of the transport owners and workers of Pabna and Shahzadpur is scheduled to be held next Saturday to arbitrate the matter. The Dhaka-bound buses will remain stop until the arbitration, he added.