An indefinite transport strike began in Habiganj on Thursday morning protesting the detention and vandalism of buses and alleged attacks on transport workers on the Habiganj-Moulvibazar route.

All public transport, including buses, remained off the roads across the district.

No inter-district or long-distance buses left Habiganj, causing significant inconvenience to passengers and commuters. Many passengers were seen waiting at different bus terminals.

Abu Moin Chowdhury Sohel, general secretary of Habiganj Motor Group, said transport owners from Habiganj had long been operating buses on the Habiganj-Sreemangal-Moulvibazar-Sherpur-Sylhet route.

However, he said, buses from Habiganj had faced obstruction at different times amid disputes with transport owners and workers in Moulvibazar.

Sohel alleged that after bus services resumed on the route on September 24, the SMS authorities in Moulvibazar detained three buses from Habiganj.

The buses have not yet been released, he said.

Following the incident, transport owners and workers’ leaders called the indefinite strike, demanding the release of the buses and uninterrupted operation of Habiganj buses in line with an earlier agreement.

“We want our buses to operate without obstruction as per the previous decision. We have been forced to go on strike because our buses are repeatedly being detained,” Sohel said.

Since the strike began, no public transport has left Habiganj for Dhaka, other districts or destinations within the district.

Office-goers, students, patients and long-distance passengers have faced considerable inconvenience as a result.

Transport owners and workers’ leaders said the strike would continue until their demands are met.