Drivers and employees of the Bangladesh Road Transport Corporation (BRTC) bus service went on strike in the city’s Joar Shahara depot yesterday demanding their dues and arrears. No buses left the depot following the strike. This strike halted the public bus service on the Abdullahpur-Motijheel, Gabtali-Gazipur, Kuril Biswa Road-Pachdona routes and staff buses for various government institutions.

BRTC chairman Farid Ahmed Bhuiyan said the employees had gone on strike demanding their dues. “The issue will be resolved by this afternoon after a discussion with them,” he added. Around 120 buses travel to different routes from this depot every day.

BRTC finance director Dr Nasim Hossain and technical director Mahabubur Rahman rushed to the depot after they came to know of the strike.

Later, depot manager Nur-E alam spoke to the protesters and urged them to return to work. “If our demands are not met, we’ll continue our demonstration,” said one of the protesters. The BRTC has 22 depots across the country, six of which are in Dhaka. About 3,000 drivers, technicians, office assistants and security guards work at these depots. They receive third- and fourthclass pay according to the public sector wage scale.

The protesters said workers at other depots in Dhaka also faced similar problems.