Commuters hit hard by bus strike in Khulna

Thousands of people, who depend on public vehicles for their daily commute, have been suffering by the 24-hour transport strike in Khulna.

Local transporter's association has said that the decision to suspend the movement of public transport on as many as 18 roads in Khulna from 6 pm on Friday has been taken to avoid any untoward incident during BNP's divisional assembly on Saturday.

Anwar Hossain Sona, joint secretary of the Khulna District Bus-Minibus-Coach Owners' Association, said, "There is a possibility of chaos at the BNP assembly. So, no public transport will either leave or enter the city from 6 pm on Friday to 6 pm on Saturday."

Non-availability of launch and ferry services in the district since Saturday morning added to the woes of the commuters.

Khulna city unit president Nazrul Islam, however, alleged that the transport and launch services were halted in the district to foil BNP’s programme.

BNP earlier announced public rallies demanding fair and credible polls. The party's third rally held in Khulna on Saturday. The rally formally began around 2:30pm, party sources said.

On Saturday, BNP is slated to hold its divisional assembly in Khulna led by former mayoral candidates in six cities of the country, in demand for free and fair civic elections and Begum Khaleda Zia's release.

BNP vice-chairman Barrister Shahjahan Omar Biruttam addressed the assembly as the chief guest. BNP senior vice-chairman Shamsuzzaman Dudu, Vice-chairman Nitai Roy Chowdhury and joint secretary-general Moazzem Hossain Alal will be special guests.