A bus strike enforced by transport workers in Jamalpur demanding safety was withdrawn today following assurances from the district administration and police.

Bus services on all routes, including the Jamalpur-Dhaka route, resumed at around 2:45pm today.

Transport workers began the work stoppage yesterday afternoon following allegations that two buses of Rajib Paribahan were vandalised and their drivers and helpers were assaulted in the Nandina area.

The Jamalpur Bus-Minibus Owners’ Association expressed solidarity with the workers and joined the strike.

Sakhawat Hossain Shuvo, general secretary of the association, said the district and police administrations assured them that two of their 12 demands would be implemented within 24 hours.

“This afternoon, we held discussions with the district administration and police. Our demands were accepted, so bus services were resumed,” he said.

Earlier, around 2:00pm, activists of the district units of Jatiya Juba Shakti and Chhatra Shakti formed a human chain in front of the deputy commissioner’s office, demanding a halt to Rajib Paribahan’s bus services.

During the programme, Aminul Ehsan Mahin Sarker, convener of the district Chhatra Shakti, and Abid Saurav, a leader of the organisation, were injured in an alleged attack by bus workers.

“We were holding a peaceful human chain. Suddenly, several leaders and activists of the bus owners’ and workers’ unions attacked us,” Aminul said.

However, Sakhawat Hossain Shuvo denied the allegation that bus workers attacked the students.

Nazmus Sakib, officer-in-charge of Jamalpur Sadar Police Station, said, “If anyone files a complaint over the attack, action will be taken following an investigation. The situation is currently under control and peaceful.”

The unrest stemmed from a fatal road accident on the night of August 31, when a Rajib Paribahan bus collided head-on with a battery-run auto-rickshaw in Laherikanda of Jamalpur Sadar upazila, and overturned, killing four people and injuring at least 15.