Barisal bus services suspended amid worker and driver clashes

Bus services from Barisal have been suspended on all routes following violent clashes between bus workers and drivers of Mahindra and CNG-operated auto-rickshaws. The disruption began Tuesday afternoon when bus workers blocked the Dhaka-Barisal highway by placing buses across the road at the Nothullabad Central Bus Terminal.

The conflict stems from ongoing disputes regarding passenger boarding rights and allegations of harassment. Bus workers claim Mahindra drivers assaulted a bus driver and helper in the Rahmatpur area, while Mahindra drivers accuse the bus owners' association of arbitrary behavior and preventing them from picking up passengers despite paying government taxes.

The strike has halted both local and long-distance transport connecting Barisal to the capital and southern districts, including Jhalokati, Pirojpur, Barguna, and Patuakhali. Hundreds of passengers, including women, children, and the elderly, have faced significant hardship due to the sudden stoppage of services.