Passengers who use the Dhaka-Mymensingh route had to suffer immensely as bus services on the route remained suspended for the second day on Sunday.
The commuters to and from Dhaka in the divisional city said that many of them had to scrap their plan and some of them had to begin their journey using alternative transports by paying higher fares and spending more time than they needed for travelling by bus.
The police said that the standoff began on Friday, when Abu Raihan, a July protester from Haluaghat, allegedly faced verbal abuse from a bus staff member, Arun Jhontu, after accidentally bumping into him while boarding.
Arun allegedly forced Raihan off the bus despite identifying himself as a 鈥楯uly fighter鈥�, Raihan claimed.
The incident sparked protests by the National Citizen Party. Local transport unions also held demonstrations demanding the workers鈥� safety.
At least 300 buses belonging to United Paribahan and Soukhin Paribahan have been grounded since Saturday night, local operators said.
Services to Mymensingh, Netrokona, Sherpur and Jamalpur remained halted following orders from transport leaders.
鈥楽ince yesterday, I have been trying to travel to Dhaka, but it has been impossible. Such sudden strikes are unacceptable. We want the bus terminals to remain free from politics鈥�, said Abu Taher, a passenger waiting at Maskanda terminal.
Authorities had managed a temporary breakthrough on Saturday afternoon when protesters withdrew their sit-in at Maskanda Bus Stand after assurances that 16 buses of United Paribahan, owned by local Awami League leader Aminul Haque Shamim, would remain suspended indefinitely. 聽
Transport workers also lifted a blockade at the terminals from the Dhaka bypass area, amid the assurance of forming a monitoring team.
But, union leaders reinstated the suspension later in the evening, demanding the unconditional release of the detained worker Arun and guarantees for workers鈥� safety.
鈥楢run has been jailed over one incident, but punishing 16 buses linked to the livelihoods of so many workers is unfair鈥�, said Sohel Rana, an assistant to a United Paribahan driver.
Abu Raihan, the activist who was allegedly harassed, said that his group had withdrawn its protest after assurances from officials and transport leaders.
鈥業f buses remain shut and passengers continue to suffer, we will have no choice but to resume our movement鈥�, he told reporters, calling for Maskanda terminal to be kept free from political influence.
On Sunday morning, several transport workers at the terminal staged a hunger strike, demanding job security and a non-partisan transport system.
Mymensingh District Motor Owners鈥� Association president and BNP leader Almagir Mahmud Alam said that some groups were exploiting the dispute for political advantage.
鈥楿sing a few NCP activists as a front, a section is inflating the issue to gain undue benefits鈥�, he alleged.