No direct bus from Kawkhali to Barishal, commuters suffer

KAWKHALI , PIROJPUR, Oct 2: Thousands of people in Kawkhali Upazila are suffering due to the lack of a direct bus service to Barishal, the divisional city.

People travelling to Barishal every day for official work, medical treatment, education and business have to change vehicles several times, increasing both travel time and expenses.

Local passengers said the distance between Kawkhali and Barishal is around 45 kilometres. Despite the relatively short distance, they first have to travel to Naikathi or Rajapur in neighbouring Rajapur Upazila by auto-rickshaw, Mahindra three-wheelers, motorcycles or other small vehicles before boarding a bus for Barishal.

The situation causes the most hardship to women, children, elderly people and patients.
Md Rafiqul Islam, a trader at Kawkhali Bazar, said he has to travel to Barishal two or three days a week for business.

“Since there is no direct bus, I have to first go to Naikathi or Rajapur and then take a bus. Changing vehicles several times while carrying goods costs both extra time and money,” he said, demanding the immediate introduction of a direct Kawkhali-Barishal bus service.

Anisur Rahman, a service holder who regularly travels to Barishal, said he often has to take his elderly father there for medical treatment.

“Since there is no direct bus, I have to change vehicles repeatedly with a sick patient. It makes the journey even more difficult for the patient. The problem is particularly severe for women, children and elderly people,” he said.

Md Habibullah, a student from Kawkhali studying at Government Brojomohun (BM) College in Barishal, said many students from the upazila study at different educational institutions in the city.

“Even after leaving home early in the morning, we remain uncertain about reaching classes or examination centres on time because we have to change vehicles. If direct buses were operated at least in the morning and afternoon, the suffering of students would be reduced considerably,” he said.

Locals said buses operate from Kawkhali on routes to Dhaka, Pirojpur and other destinations, but no direct public transport service has been established between the upazila and Barishal.

Yet a large number of people travel to Barishal every day for medical treatment, education, business and official work.

Passengers and members of the local community said a direct Kawkhali-Barishal bus service would save both time and money and ease the long-standing travel difficulties faced by patients, students, traders and service holders.

They urged the bus owners' associations of Pirojpur, Jhalakathi and Barishal, as well as the authorities concerned, to take prompt steps to introduce the service.