Long-route bus services from Rajshahi, Natore and Chapainawabganj districts remained suspended on Monday as transport workers enforced an indefinite strike for the second time in September, demanding a hike in wages and allowances.
As a result, passengers bound for Dhaka, Chattogram Sylhet, Cox鈥檚 Bazar and other destinations suffered with most long-haul buses remaining off the road.
Transport leaders in Rajshahi said that services of Hanif, Hanif KTC, National, Desh, Shyamoli and Grameen Travels buses remained halted, while only Ekota and sleeper buses were operating.
In addition, Dhaka-bound local buses ran, but they did not travel on other long routes, leaving many passengers stranded.
As the buses from other companies did not run, pressure mounted on Ekota buses bound for Dhaka, but they could not accommodate so many passengers, officials said.
Workers alleged that currently drivers mostly get Tk 1,100, supervisors get Tk 500, and driver鈥檚 assistants (helpers) get Tk 400 per trip for nearly a decade.
They said that they enforced a similar strike on September 8 on the same demand and withdrew it on September 10 following assurances of wage hikes from owners.
But as the promises remained unfulfilled, the workers again went for the second strike, strikers said.
The workers are demanding that the rate per trip be raised to Tk 2,000 for drivers, Tk 1,100 for supervisors and Tk 1,000 for helpers, with higher payments for trips extending to Kansat in Chapainawabganj.
Rafiqul Islam Pakhi, general secretary of Rajshahi District Motor Workers鈥� Union, said that the owners repeatedly pledged an increase in wages, but ignored to fulfill the promise.
鈥楾hat is why workers were forced to start the indefinite strike again. So far, the owners have not come forward for talks,鈥� he added.
Rajshahi Road Transport Group general secretary Nazrul Islam Helal could not be reached for comments over phone.
