Bus services on all internal routes in Naogaon district resumed Monday night after a 48-hour strike following assurances from police regarding an assault case.
Bus services across all internal routes in Naogaon district resumed late Monday night (September 28) after remaining suspended for nearly 48 hours due to a strike by transport workers. Services restarted around 10:30pm following several rounds of talks between police and transport workers' leaders, with workers calling off their strike after receiving assurances from authorities.
The dispute began Saturday morning at Baludanga bus stand in Naogaon town when bus workers and CNG-run auto-rickshaw drivers got into a scuffle over passenger boarding. Later that day, bus driver Rubel Hossain and a supervisor were allegedly attacked by auto-rickshaw drivers at Nazipur bus stand in Patnitala upazila. Rubel sustained serious injuries and was initially taken to Patnitala Upazila Health Complex before being transferred to Naogaon 250-bed General Hospital.
Bus workers began an indefinite strike Sunday morning, demanding justice for their colleagues and action against what they described as illegal operation of auto-rickshaws on highways. According to transport leaders, existing regulations prohibit auto-rickshaws and CNG-run auto-rickshaws from carrying passengers on long-distance routes outside towns between 8:00am and certain hours, though enforcement has been inconsistent.
The two-day shutdown disrupted bus services from Baludanga Bus Stand to Rajshahi, Joypurhat, Bogura, Chapainawabganj and other routes, causing widespread inconvenience to passengers across the district. Rafiqul Islam Chowdhury, general secretary of the Naogaon District Bus Owners' Group, confirmed that workers agreed to end the strike after police assured them of action in the assault case.
Police held several rounds of discussions with labour leaders throughout Monday to resolve the standoff. Mohammad Monirul Islam, additional superintendent of police in Naogaon, confirmed that multiple meetings were held with bus owners to find a solution to the crisis.