Bus services on the Dhaka-Mymensingh route resumed on Monday morning after a 2-day suspension caused by a series of protests and counter-protests over assault on a July activist.
Mymensingh Deputy Commissioner Muhidul Alam confirmed that transport workers and owners decided to withdraw the strike around 9pm on Sunday following a meeting at the DC office with anti-discrimination student leaders and transport owners and workers.
The dispute began on Friday night when Abu Raihan, identifying himself as a July fighter, reportedly brushed against bus staffer Arun Jhontu while boarding a United Paribahan bus.
Despite Raihan repeatedly apologising, Jhontu allegedly hurled insults and behaved inappropriately before forcing him off the bus.
In protest, anti-discrimination student activists began a sit-in in front of the United Paribahan counter in the city’s Baskanda area that same night. Police later detained bus worker Arun Jhontu in connection with the incident.
The following day, protesters demanded justice for the assault and the arrest of Awami League leader Aminul Haque Shamim – an accused in the martyr Sagor murder case – and also called for a suspension of all United Paribahan buses owned by him.
In response, transport workers blocked the city’s bypass area on Saturday morning, halting all Dhaka-bound buses from Mymensingh, Netrakona, Sherpur, and Jamalpur. Buses traveling from Dhaka to those districts were also stuck, creating long tailbacks on both sides.
Hundreds of passengers suffered hours of hardship amid the standstill, with many choosing to walk to their destinations due to the gridlock.
