Commuters had to endure immense sufferings as bus services on the Rajshahi-Chapainawabganj route remained suspended since Sunday morning after a clash between drivers from the two districts.
According to transport workers, drivers from the two districts locked in an altercation over a trivial matter in Rajshahi in the morning, and, at one stage, a driver from Chapainawabganj was assaulted there.
In retaliation, local drivers in Chapainawabganj vandalised a Rajshahi group bus and the incident led to rising tensions and the eventual halt of bus services on the route connecting the two districts.
As a result, the passengers were left stranded or were compelled to pay extra to complete their journeys.
Shafiqul Islam, a passenger who boarded a bus at Rajshahi’s Railgate area, said that the driver informed him that the bus would only go as far as Godagari. 'From there, I’ll have to manage the rest,' he said.
Another passenger, Farzana Khatun, said that she had to get down from the bus she boarded midway and had to complete her journey paying extra money and changing vehicles.
Uttarbanga Sarak Paribahan Federation general secretary and Rajshahi Road Transport Group secretary Nazrul Islam Helal said that they were working to resolve the issue.
