Public transport in Dhaka thin; workers say they feel unsafe

Most public transports were off Dhaka streets today as transport workers said they feel unsafe on the roads.

Commuters in different parts of the capital were seen struggling to reach their destinations.

Inside the capital, presence of public buses was very low as many buses were not being brought out because transport workers feel insecure, said Mahbubur Rahman, organising secretary of Dhaka Road Transport Owners’ Association.

At Gabtoli Bus Terminal, hundreds of buses were seen parked inside the terminal with thousands of passengers waiting on the roads, reports our photojournalist from the spot.

Meanwhile, very few inter-district buses have left or entered Dhaka since this morning.

Talking to The Daily Star, President of Bangladesh Bus-Truck Owners’ Association Faruk Talukder Sohel said the number of buses leaving or entering Dhaka city is very low because the transport workers do not feel secured.

The students’ protest is on its fifth day today with students from more educational institutions joining in the road blockades and demonstrations demanding safe roads and justice for their two peers killed in Sunday's road crash on Airport Road.

Since protests started this morning, students have blocked roads including Dhaka-Mymensingh Highway in Uttara, Mirpur Road, Lalmatia and Gulshan-2 intersection.