Transport service resumes in Rangamati; Khagrachari route remains closed

Public transportation on internal routes between Chattogram and Rangamati resumed this (23 September) morning after a two-day suspension following the recent communal violence in the hill districts. 

However, traffic on the Khagrachhari route, where the conflict originated, remains halted. 

Khorshedul Alam, general secretary of the Chattogram Bus, Minibus Workers Union, said buses are operating on their usual schedules on the Chittagong-Rangamati route, with hundreds of daily trips carrying approximately 2,000 passengers.

Although buses are available, CNG autorickshaws remain the more popular mode of transport on this route. These vehicles also serve internal routes within Rangamati, including Kaptai, Mahalchhari, Naniachhara, and Khagrachhari. Over two thousand CNG autorickshaws are operating in the area.

Mizanur Rahman Babu, general secretary of Rangamati District CNG Autorickshaw Workers Union, said CNG-run autorickshaws have resumed normal operations on all routes.

On the other hand, traffic on Chattogram-Khagrachhari route remains suspended due to security concerns, said Shah Jahan, organising secretary of Chattogram-Nazirhat-Khagrachhari Bus Owners Association.

The route typically sees over 200 daily trips by 100 buses, carrying approximately 6,000 to 8,000 passengers.

Following recent communal violence that resulted in the burning of CNG autorickshaws, transport owners' associations in Rangamati and other hill districts had announced an indefinite strike. 

After a meeting with the transport workers on Sunday afternoon, Rangamati Deputy Commissioner Mosharraf Hossain Khan assured that CNG-bus-truck workers who were injured will be provided better treatment and compensation will be sought from the ministry for all transports including bus-trucks that have been damaged.

After being assured about compensation, the transport owner workers announced the withdrawal of the indefinite strike.