Bus and minibus operations under the Kushtia District Bus-Minibus Owners’ Group have been suspended indefinitely following a strike by transport workers. The suspension began early Friday, April 17, 2026, halting all passenger services on major routes including Kushtia-Meherpur, Kushtia-Pragpur, Kushtia-Khulna-Jashore, and others. Only long-distance buses to Dhaka and vehicles from other districts continue to operate, leaving passengers on local routes stranded. The strike was announced Thursday evening by the district motor workers’ union.

Union president Mahabul Alam said the dispute arose because one of the union’s two buses, affiliated with the owners’ group, was denied the same facilities as other owners’ vehicles. After two meetings failed to resolve the issue, workers set an April 15 deadline for their demands, which went unmet. The union, supported by the owners’ association workers, then enforced the indefinite suspension.

Owners’ group secretary Rafiqul Islam confirmed that workers had demanded equal benefits with owners and permission for a union-owned bus to operate on the Kushtia-Khulna route. As these demands were not met, the strike was launched, affecting all local routes.