Bus services have remained suspended in majority of the district despite the government’s assurance of meeting the transport workers’ demands of amending the road transport law.

On Thursday (Nov 21), the cargo transport leaders and workers called off their nationwide strike after a meeting with the home minister.

The minister after meeting with the representatives of Bangladesh Truck-Covered-van Goods Transport Owner-Worker Unity Council, Bangladesh Road Transport Owners Association and Bangladesh Bus-Truck Owners Association said that their demands have been met.

Commuters at Shariatpur are suffering greatly as buses in the longer routes have not resumed operations. Services are likely resume on Friday (Nov 22).

In Khulna, bus services remained suspended for the fourth day with transport workers still observing strike. No local or long route buses left the terminals on Thursday.

Khulna Motor Workers Union Assistant Secretary Md Ziaur Rahman Mithu said that a decision over the strike will be reached after a meeting on Thursday.

The scenario was similar at Tangail, Kurigram, Jamalpur, Chuadanga, Naogaon and Jhenaidah.

Tangail District Bus-Minibus Owners Association Khandaker Iqbal Hossain said that the workers federation is scheduled to meet on Thursday after which a decision will be reached.

In Kurigram bus workers attacked battery-run auto-rickshaws that passengers were resorting to in order to reach their destinations.

Kurigram sadar police OC Mahfuzur Rahman said that police have been dispatched to bring the situation under control.

Transport workers in Jamalpur are still observing strike with many obstructing movement of vehicles in the Jamalpur-Tangail route.

Meanwhile, commuters in Dhaka, Mymensingh, Madaripur and Hili breathed a sigh of relief as transport services slowly resumed.