Night coaches resume operation

Transport owners have resumed the operation of long-haul buses at night, ending a month-long suspension.

Many night coaches left Dhaka after 9:00pm for their destinations, Osman Gani, general secretary of Bangladesh Sarak Paribahan Sramik Federation, told The Daily Star around 9:30pm.

Earlier in the afternoon, a meeting between State Minister for Home Affairs Asaduzzaman Khan and transport leaders at Bangladesh Secretariat decided to run the buses at night.

The authorities on February 9 suspended operations of the night coaches on highways after 9:00pm following deadly arson attacks on vehicles during the ongoing nationwide hartal and blockade enforced by the BNP-led 20-party alliance.

At least 86 people have so far been killed, mostly in mindless arson attacks, since the nationwide indefinite blockade was called on January 5 this year.

Among the victims, 69 had no links to politics whatsoever.

Three major incidents of night coaches being torched in firebomb attacks took place in Gaibandha, Rangpur and Comilla. At least 20 people were killed in the incidents.