Bus communication on six routes of the country’s southern region from Barishal was suspended since Saturday evening, causing public suffering on the routes. This situation was reportedly created as a clash ensued between Barishal Bus Owners’ Association and workers over higher fare charges in bus stoppages. Jhalakathi Bus Owners’ Association called the strike protesting alleged  assault on its workers at Rupatali bus terminal of Barishal.

As a result, direct bus communication to Pirojpur, Patuakhali, Bagerhat, Khulna and Jhalakathi from Barishal has remained stopped.  Facing the sudden strike, a large number of bus passengers were found to suffer in different bus stands of the city. Awlad Hossain, of Pirojpur, said “I needed to travel to Pirojpur, but could not because of the bus strike.”

Kawsar Hossain Shipon, secretary of Barishal-Patuakhali Bus Minibus Owners’ Association, said “We tried to negotiate with Jhalakathi Bus  Owners’ Association, but the association enforced a sudden strike”.

Bahadur Bepary, secretary of Jhalakati Bus Minibus Workers’ Union, said Barishal Bus Owners’ Association demanded extra charges from workers at  Rupatali bus terminal of Barishal on Saturday morning. As the bus workers of Jhalakathi and Pirojpur denied to pay the extra fees, they also beat the workers, leaving a bus driver injured.  The injured driver was admitted to a hospital. Inter-district bus owners and workers went on an indefinite transport strike on 17 south-western routes in the same month last year.