Transport strike paralyses Sylhet for second day

TIMES Report
3 Min Read
Transport strike paralyses Sylhet city. Photo: Collected

The indefinite transport strike called by transport workers in Sylhet over a six-point charter of demands entered its second day on Tuesday, bringing long-distance and intra-district bus services to a complete halt. Commuters across the region faced mounting difficulties as confusion and division gripped the local transport sector.

The strike, jointly organised by the Sylhet District Road Transport Bus Minibus Owners’ Association and the Sylhet District Road Transport Bus-Minibus, Coach-Microbus Workers’ Union, was first announced on Sunday. Since then, the situation within the transport community has become increasingly fractured, with one group of leaders supporting the strike and another openly rejecting it. This internal rift has left the public bewildered and uncertain.

On Tuesday morning, the usually busy Kadamtoli Bus Terminal remained silent. No buses departed from the station, and only a handful of passengers were seen waiting in vain. Many people were forced to walk long distances to reach their destinations, while some opted for rickshaws and other local vehicles.

Within Sylhet city, however, movement remained somewhat normal. CNG-run auto-rickshaws and small local vehicles continued to operate across areas like Zindabazar, Ambarkhana, Tilagarh and Madina Market. But the number of vehicles was far lower than on a typical weekday, causing long delays and frustration among commuters.

According to the strike organisers, one of their key demands is the cancellation of a government notification issued under Section 36 of the Road Transport Act 2018, which imposes age limits on various types of vehicles. They are also demanding the reopening of suspended stone and sand quarries in Sylhet, a rollback of BRTA authorisations given to private contractors, and the withdrawal of additional taxes imposed on public transport.

Other demands include the restoration of electricity to crusher mills, compensation for seized sand and stones, and the removal of Sylhet Deputy Commissioner Muhammad Sher Mahbub Murad, whom they accuse of harassing drivers transporting stone and sand.

Many passengers have expressed anger and disappointment over the ongoing strike, saying their daily lives and livelihoods are being severely disrupted. Despite the growing public pressure, strike organisers have vowed not to back down until their demands are met.

While local authorities have yet to issue any formal statement, sources suggest that behind-the-scenes efforts may be underway to mediate the situation and restore normalcy to the region’s transport system.

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