Residents and tourists faced severe disruptions due to a transport strike in Cox's Bazar organized by the Bangladesh Sarak Paribahan Malik-Sramik Oikya Parishad taking place from 6am-6pm on Wednesday.
The strike, called with seven demands, affected long-distance vehicle movement between Chittagong and Cox's Bazar, as well as other areas in southern Chittagong, including Chittagong-Cox's Bazar-Teknaf-Bandarban road and PAB Banshkhali.
Tourists visiting Cox's Bazar and individuals travelling to Chittagong and Dhaka experienced significant inconvenience.
Many were unaware of the sudden strike and found themselves stranded at various bus stands in the city.
Raihan Uddin Chowdhury and Beethi Chowdhury, a couple from Sirajganj visiting Cox's Bazar, expressed their frustration, stating that their tickets would be cancelled if they could not board the bus due to the strike.
Shafiul Azam from Dhaka’s Mohammadpur, who was in Cox's Bazar with his family, found himself stuck due to the strike. He lamented the financial strain caused by the unexpected delay.
Similarly, Maulana Abu Syed, a resident of the Inani Baylyakhali area of Ukhiya, was worried about missing treatment in Dhaka due to the unavailability of transportation caused by the strike.
Rafiqul Islam Rafiq, publicity secretary of Cox's Bazar Arkan Road Transport Workers Union, said: “We are holding the strike to put pressure on authorities until our demands are met,” hinting at more stringent actions if necessary.
Shefatul Alam Babu, president of Cox's Bazar District Road Transport Workers Union, highlighted their stand for the implementation of the Road Transport Act and the need for order on roads.
Tourists, who primarily travel during the day, faced significant disruptions due to the strike.
Moukhim Khan, general secretary of the Kalatali Marine Drive Road Hotel-Motel Owners Association, explained that the strike was preventing tourists from arriving and departing during the day, causing inconvenience. Many visitors were left stranded at bus counters, leading to frustration and additional expenses for those needing alternative transportation.
The demands of transport workers encompass various critical issues, including the prevention of accidents, ensuring road safety measures and banning unauthorized vehicle modifications, such as converting minibus chassis into double-decker buses without the approval of the BRTA.
Additionally, they seek an end to unfair competition due to passenger transport violations on local routes and the prohibition of vehicles like easybikes, battery rickshaws, tomtoms and illegal CNG-run autorickshaws, which have contributed to road accidents.
The workers are also calling for the removal of unauthorized installations like haat-bazaars along highways, equalizing fines in traffic laws, improving regional bus terminals' infrastructure, implementing a ban on salt transport on open trucks and addressing requisition-related issues, including cleaning up the Cox's Bazar Municipal Bus Terminal. Their strike emphasizes the urgent need for comprehensive transportation reforms and safety measures in the region.