Dhaka's bus services with 11 northern districts halted

Dhaka's bus services with 11 northern districts halted
Dhaka's bus services with 11 northern districts halted

Bus services between Dhaka and 11 districts of the northern region remain suspended from Wednesday morning, causing immense sufferings to the passengers.
Rajshahi Divisional Transport Owners-Workers Unity Association shut down the bus services on the Dhaka-northern routes after an emergency meeting in Bogra Central Bus Terminal on Tuesday night.
The 11 districts with which Dhaka's communication is halted, are Rangpur, Kurigram, Gaibandah, Thakurgaon, Dinajpur, Nilphamari, Panchagar, Lalmonirhat, Naogaon, Joypurhat and Bogra.

Joint convenor of Bogra bus owners’ association, Aminul Islam, said the bus services between 11 northern districts and Dhaka came to a halt due to non-cooperation from the Dhaka’s bus owners.

“But we don’t want to keep the people hostage.”

On the other hand, Mohakhali Bus Owners Association president Haji Abul Kalam said, “The problem has emerged for Bogra owners. We invited them to a meeting, but they disagreed.”

The crisis emerged following introduction of Shah Fateh Ali Paribahan’s low-cost bus services on the Dhaka-Bogra route.

It was learnt that there is no AC bus on the Dhaka-Bogra route. Non-AC buses on the route cost Tk 350. But, Bogra’s Shah Ali Paribahan’s AC buses charge almost the same price.

The Dhaka owners claimed the low-cost AC bus services have caused losses for them. This is why, they argued, they demanded that the the AC buse services be shut.