Barisal: Bus owners and workers of four districts of Barisal division went on an indefinite strike on 17 routes of the division on Wednesday morning demanding allowing a bus service on the Bagerhat-Khulna route.

The strike called by Barisal-Patuakhali Bus Owners’ and Workers’ Association began at 6:00am, reports the UNB.

Expressing solidarity with the strike, bus owners and workers of Bhola and Barguna also kept their vehicles off the routes.

No bus was seen plying the routes since the morning, inflicting sufferings to passengers.

Saidur Rahman Sipon, president of Barisal-Patuakhali Mini Bus Owners’ Association, said bus owners of Jhalakati had long been opposing the introduction of a bus service on the Bagerhat-Khulna route through their district.

They announced the strike from a human chain formed at Patuakhali bus stand on Tuesday as the Jhalakati bus owners refused to give in to their demand, he said.