Commuters across six regional routes in Barishal encountered widespread disruption on Monday morning following an abrupt suspension of bus services by local vehicle owners and transport workers. The strike was launched in protest against the operation of unauthorised three-wheelers and battery-powered auto-rickshaws on main roads, a friction point that has repeatedly disrupted regional transit.
Transport workers assembled at the Charkauwa bus terminal in Barishal Sadar Upazila early on Monday, halting all outgoing vehicles and staging demonstrations. The stoppage affected key local routes connecting the city terminal to DC Road, Lakshmipasha, Lahar Hat, Katadia, Holta, and Siddique Bazar. Around 70 buses operate daily across these destinations, providing critical transport links for thousands of local residents, office workers, and traders.
Tensions escalated as bus operators claimed that illegal smaller vehicles were actively undermining their licensed services. According to Mamun Khondokar, President of the Charkauwa Bus and Minibus Owners’ Association, transport crews attempted to launch their regular morning journeys but were physically blocked at terminal entry points by operators of three-wheelers and battery-driven auto-rickshaws. The association has called for direct intervention from local law enforcement and civil administration to restore order and clear the routes.
The sudden service closure left thousands of travellers stranded with few viable alternatives. Passengers reported being forced to hire private motorbikes or traditional rickshaws at inflated fares to reach their destinations. Several commuters, including Saiful Islam, Jamal Munshi, and Syed Abu Bakkar, expressed frustration over the recurring nature of such transport strikes. They urged local authorities to find a permanent solution to the dispute rather than allowing public mobility to be repeatedly compromised.
Barishal Deputy Commissioner Md. Mamun Khondokar confirmed that the administration has initiated talks with representative groups from both sides to resolve the impasse and resume normal vehicular traffic without delay.
