Jashore Correspondent

Bus owners in Jashore district have decided not to join the two-day strike called by Khulna Bus Owners and Workers Association on October 21-22, ahead of opposition BNP's public rally slated for October 22.

The association in Khulna called for the transport strike on 18 routes demanding the authorities to stop plying of easy-bikes and other motorised three-wheelers on the highways.

However, bus owners in Jashore say they are not joining the transport strike and will continue their operations, reports our Benapole correspondent quoting Pabitra Kapudia, president of Jashore Inter-district Bus Syndicate.

As usual, buses are operation on all inter-district and other long routes from Jashore, he said.

However, buses are not being allowed to enter Khulna district and hence buses on Jashore-Khulna route are operating till Abhoynagar upazila, he added.Talking to The Daily Star, Selim Reza Mithu, general secretary of Bangladesh Transport Association Workers' Union, said the bus owners' bodies in Jashore and Khulna are different entities and passenger services on all long routes are normal.

Terming the bus strike as a planned sabotage, Anindya Islam Amit, organizing secretary of BNP's Khulna divisional unit, said it was announced to prevent the party's rally from becoming a success.

"If necessary, BNP activists will join the rally in Khulna by travelling on foot," he added.

BNP is scheduled to hold a rally in Khulna on October 22, assembling all leaders and activists from the 10 districts under the division. Central BNP leaders including Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam is expected to attend the rally.