Passengers suffer due to lack of bus terminal at Amtali in Barguna
// Saifullah Nasir, Barguna Correspondent //
Although Amtali municipality of Barguna district is one of the largest first class municipalities, there is no bus terminal here. Passengers are suffering because there is no bus terminal here. Passengers are constantly suffering due to bus stops everywhere. From Amtali every day hundreds of buses including Talves, Super Sony travel all day and night across the country including Rajdhani, Payra Port, Chittagong Port, Mongla Port, Kuakata, Cox’s Bazar. Besides, Barisal, Barguna and Patuakhali also run more than 100 buses daily.
Every day from Amtali to Ishwardi, Pabna, Kushtia, Khulna, Magura, Yoshar, Bogra, Naogaon, Rajshahi, Rangpur, Kurigram, Syedpur, Sylhet, Chittagong, Comilla, Narayanganj, Gazipur, Sirajganj and other districts of the country, including commercial ports and capitals. Thousands of passengers travel daily for the purpose.
The traffic jam was caused due to the presence of engine driven green CNG, Nasimon, Karimon, buses, trucks and other vehicles on the roads of the entire market area including Amtali crossroads. As a result, passengers got involved in road accidents.
Passengers on night buses from Dhaka got off at Amtali but had to suffer as they could not find any place to sit. Many passengers fell into the clutches of the snatchers and looted money along with their belongings. A state-of-the-art bus terminal at Amtalitap is urgently needed to protect the passengers from this and to keep the bus from stopping here and there.
Swapan, a transport passenger from Dhaka, said he reached Amtali at 5 am but could not leave for home as it was not getting late. As there is no bus terminal here, the passengers had to stand on the side of the road.
Ripon Mia, counter manager of Amtali Seven Star and Seven Deluxe Transport, said a bus terminal would have to be built in Amtali soon to reduce congestion, traffic congestion and accidents.
Regarding the suffering of the people as there is no bus terminal in Amtali, Md. Matiar Rahman, Mayor of Amtali Municipality and General Secretary of Upazila Awami League, said that efforts are being made to build a modern standard bus terminal in Amtali. In this regard a modern standard bus terminal will be constructed at Amtali in consultation with the appropriate authorities.
Advocate Dhirendra Debnath Shambhu, Hon’ble Member of Parliament for Barguna-1 (Amtali-Taltali-Barguna) constituency, Chairman of Parliamentary Committee on Ministry of Fisheries and Animal Resources and President of Barguna District Awami League, said that the Dhaka-Amtali-Kuakata highway has been upgraded to international standard. Construction of a modern standard bus terminal in Amtali municipal town is very urgent. For the construction of bus terminal, I have given DO letter to the concerned ministry more than once. Arrangements will be made for the construction of a modern standard bus terminal at Amtali by contacting the concerned ministry.
