The Cumilla District Bus Owners’ Association staged a strike today by halting bus operations at the Jangalia, Sasongacha, and Chawk Bazar bus terminals in Cumilla district town for approximately eight and a half hours. Commuters faced significant disruptions due to a conflict between two transport operators on the Cumilla-Chandpur route, leading to the strike that commenced at 6:00am. Throughout the day, no buses departed from the mentioned terminals, causing the suspension of bus services on 40 regional and long-distance routes, such as Cumilla-Dhaka, Cumilla-Chattogram, Cumilla-Sylhet, Cumilla-Chandpur, and Cumilla-Noakhali.
The strike was initiated to demand that Aidi Paribahan cease its operations on the Cumilla-Chandpur route through the Jangalia bus terminal, as reported by sources. Md Tajul Islam, the executive president of the Cumilla Bus Owners’ Association, emphasized that Aidi Paribahan lacks a route permit in Cumilla but persists in using the town’s bus terminals. Conversely, Aidi Paribahan Chairman Mir Parvez Alam claimed that they commenced operating buses on the Cumilla-Chandpur route in 2023 after obtaining approval from the Chandpur deputy commissioner’s office. He alleged that internal opposition from a syndicate within the Cumilla bus owners’ group has impeded their operations, resulting in the local administration withholding a route permit.
The strike concluded at 2:30pm, following which many commuters resorted to alternative transport methods at increased costs to reach their destinations during the period of suspended bus services.