Photo: Collected
The bus owners' association and workers called off their indefinite strike after 24 hours on Wednesday night. The decision came following a meeting with district administration officials, CNG drivers, local political leaders, representatives of civil society, and journalists.
During the three-hour-long meeting, the Bus Owners Association and CNG drivers assured that bus and CNG services would resume as usual starting Thursday morning, promising that everything would return to normal.
The demands of both sides were presented during the meeting.
They also expressed regret over the unfortunate incident. At the meeting, the Bhola Municipality allocated an area next to the bus stand for the CNG drivers to park, which was accepted by the CNG drivers.
Both sides agreed to resume operations together as before and promised that such an incident would not occur again in the future.
Deputy Commissioner Md. Azad Jahan said that a peaceful solution was reached during the discussions. He explained that a separate area has been allocated for CNG drivers, while the bus owners will continue operating at the bus stand leased by the municipality.
He mentioned that both parties have agreed to avoid any future conflicts and maintain a peaceful arrangement.
Bhola District Superintendent of Police Mohammad Shariful Haque, Joint General Secretary of the Bus Owners Association Md. Humayun Kabir, District President of the Auto Rickshaw Workers Federation Md. Maksudur Rahman, leaders of various political parties, as well as senior officials from the administration, including the Navy and Coast Guard, were present at the meeting.
Earlier, at least 25 people were injured and several vehicles were torched during a violent clash between bus and CNG run autorickshaw drivers at the Birshreshtha Mostafa Kamal Bus Terminal in Bhola Sadar upazila on Tuesday.
Messenger/JRTarek
