Commuters' sufferings in Pabna District is rising as an indefinite transport strike on the Pabna-Dhaka route, enforced by the district motor owners' group and the motor workers' union, passed the second day on Friday.
The strike began at 10am on Thursday and has caused major disruptions, leaving hundreds of passengers stranded.
The transport organizations initiated the strike to protest alleged extortion and repeated assaults on Pabna-based transport workers by their counterparts in Shahjadpur, Sirajganj.
The latest incident occurred on June 25 when a Pabna worker was reportedly beaten up by workers from the Nobin Boron Paribahan group in Shahjadpur.
Passengers travelling to Dhaka from various areas of Pabna faced significant challenges. With no buses running, many had to turn back without reaching their destinations.
Aminul Islam Babul, office secretary of Pabna District Motor Owners' Group, confirmed the strike on Friday.
"After a joint meeting with the Bus-Minibus Owners' Association and the Motor Workers' Union, we decided to suspend all long-distance buses to Dhaka until the issue is resolved," he said.
According to the workers' union, Shahjadpur-based transport groups have repeatedly violated operational rules and attacked Pabna drivers.
On June 25, a Nobin Boron bus reportedly disregarded departure schedules and assaulted a worker from a Pabna vehicle during a dispute.
"This behaviour is unacceptable. We demand a permanent solution. Until that happens, the strike will continue," said Firoz Hossain, president of Pabna Motor Workers' Union.
Khademul Islam Badsha, acting president of Pabna Motor Owners' Association, added, "Despite multiple promises, workers from Shahjadpur continue to attack our staff.
We cannot restart service unless the authorities step in and provide a lasting solution."
The strike is ongoing, with no immediate end in sight, as transport leaders call for administrative action to ensure the safety of Pabna transport workers.
