Rajshahi bus services resume after election dispute agreement

Bus services in Rajshahi, Bangladesh, returned to normal Tuesday evening after a daylong strike by transport workers protesting disputes over the election for the Rajshahi District Motor Workers’ Union. The strike had stranded passengers and disrupted operations on both long-distance and internal routes.

The deadlock was resolved when Rajshahi Deputy Commissioner Kazi Shahidul Islam intervened, assigning Deputy Commissioner of Police (Traffic Division) Nur Alam Siddiqui to mediate. A settlement was reached Tuesday, addressing demands from the Momin group. Key to the agreement was the exclusion of Rajshahi Road Transport Group General Secretary Nazrul Islam Helal from the election management committee. Instead, the election will proceed under the direct supervision of the deputy commissioner.

Both factions agreed to form an eight-member convening committee, with four representatives from each side, to oversee the terminal's operations during the election period. Following this agreement, transport workers announced the resumption of services, bringing an end to the day's disruptions.