Bus services on the Dhaka–Mymensingh highway remained suspended for a second consecutive day on Sunday due to a standoff between the National Citizens Party (NCP) and transport workers, leaving thousands of passengers stranded across five districts.
Following instructions from the Dhaka Transport Owners-Workers Federation, the Mymensingh District Motor Vehicle Owners Association and the District Workers Union jointly declared an indefinite suspension of all bus services on the route.
As a result, no buses have been operating between Dhaka and Mymensingh, Sherpur, Jamalpur, Netrokona, and Kishoreganj since Sunday morning, causing severe disruption for commuters—particularly office workers returning to Dhaka after the weekend.
Many passengers, who had arrived at terminals early in the morning, expressed anger and frustration after discovering the sudden suspension of services without prior notice. Those who had already purchased tickets were seen desperately seeking alternative modes of transport to reach their destinations.
According to police and local sources, the conflict began late Friday night when a passenger, Abu Raihan, allegedly brushed against transport worker Arun Jhontu while boarding a Dhaka-bound bus. Despite Raihan apologizing and identifying himself as a July Movement activist, the worker reportedly responded with verbal abuse and forced him off the bus.
In protest, members of the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement gathered in front of the United Service bus counter in Mymensingh’s Maskanda area around 9 PM that night and began demonstrating. Police later intervened and detained transport worker Arun Jhontu, escalating tensions between the groups.
In response, the Mymensingh District Motor Owners Association and the District Workers Union jointly called for the transport strike, demanding the immediate release of the detained worker.
Association President Alamgir Mahmud Alam, who also serves as the Joint Convener of the Mymensingh District BNP, said the decision to halt bus services was taken by the owners’ association. “A group is trying to exploit this incident under the banner of NCP for unethical gains. They have caused similar trouble before,” he alleged.
He added that although a plan had been made to resume bus operations—alongside the formation of a monitoring team and suspension of 16 buses operated by Aminul Haque Shamim, Vice President of the district Awami League—the Dhaka-based transport leadership refused to comply. Consequently, bus services operated by United and Saukhin Paribahan remain suspended.
Alam warned that the strike would continue indefinitely until the detained worker is released and restrictions on the suspended buses are lifted.
Local business owners and passengers expressed concern that the continued shutdown of Dhaka-bound transport from the five districts could not only worsen public suffering but also have a serious negative impact on regional trade and economic activity if the deadlock is not resolved soon.
