Transport workers blocked the road outside the Mohakhali Bus Terminal in the capital on Thursday afternoon, protesting against the removal of illegally parked buses and the impounding of unfit vehicles.
Agitated by a recent traffic police crackdown, the workers demanded that vehicles sent to dumping grounds should be held for a maximum of 10 days, rather than languishing there for months.
At approximately 3:30 pm, demonstrators parked several buses across both carriageways outside the terminal, bringing traffic to a standstill. The blockade was eventually lifted at around 6:00 pm.
Police recently initiated a drive to remove long-idle buses from the Mohakhali area to ease congestion and restore order to the roads.
The impounded vehicles are being relocated to Purbachal, with plans to remove further unused buses in phases. However, this move has fuelled growing resentment among transport owners and workers regarding the disposal of unfit vehicles.
Mahbubur Rahman, Officer-in-Charge at the Tejgaon Industrial Area Police Station, noted that the blockade triggered severe gridlock. “We attempted to clear the workers from the road and restore traffic flow, but they refused to listen,” he said.
Kamrul Hasan, who identified himself as a bus driver, claimed that police were seizing buses parked outside the terminal and imposing hefty towing charges. “If a vehicle is sent to a dumping yard, it should stay there for a maximum of 10 days. It cannot be kept there for months, as this severely affects our livelihood,” he explained.
Another worker, Ilias Akhtar, criticised the inadequate security at the Purbachal dumping site. “Even vehicle batteries are being stolen from there. We want an end to this harassment,” he said.
The protesters alleged that cases were being filed against them without justification, placing immense financial strain on both owners and employees. Because many of the buses were purchased on instalment plans, prolonged impoundment prevents drivers from earning the money required to meet their loan repayments.
Throughout the demonstration, workers chanted slogans demanding an end to arbitrary fines and calling for the resignation of the additional police commissioner.
Speaking to TIMES, Road Transport Owners Association Secretary General Saiful Alam claimed he was completely unaware of the unrest. “I am ill. I only learned about the matter from you,” he said. However, addressing the issue of buses parked illegally on the streets, he remarked, “This is an act of arrogance.”
Md Rafiqul Islam, Deputy Commissioner of the Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) Tejgaon Traffic Division, told TIMES that disputes involving transport workers are inherently sensitive. “Senior traffic officials spoke with them and managed to resolve the matter. They have now vacated the road,” he confirmed.
