bus owners’ associations
Transport workers 'throw 7-year-old girl out of bus window' in Barishal
A 7-year-old girl was allegedly thrown out of a parked bus window by a group of transport workers in Barishal on Friday.
The victim was identified as Munia.
The incident occurred in the morning after her family spoke against carrying additional passengers disobeying the government's directive of 50 percent occupancy.
The bus workers also beat up her family members, Shamim Shikder, 27, and Hasnur Begum, 55.
Shikdar said he had collected tickets for Mothbaria paying extra fare following the government directives but the supervisor was not maintaining the rule and took additional passengers.
“As I protested against this, 20-25 workers from the bus terminal including the driver's assistant and supervisor started thrashing me inside the bus. My family members were assaulted when they went to stop them,” he said.
"They also threw 7-year-old Munia out of the bus window,” he said.
“Munia has returned home and is currently doing well after receiving first aid," he added.
It is unclear whether any police case has been filed.
Witnesses said workers of Rupatoli and Jhalakathi bus owners’ associations assaulted the family led by the supervisor of a Mahmi Paribahan bus, Munna.
All intra-district buses in Barishal disobey the government’s directive and carry extra passengers in the absence of supervision by the authorities concerned, said locals.
General Secretary of Rupatoli Bus Owners’ Association Kawsar Hossain Shipon claimed the workers of Jhalakati bus owners’ association had actually assaulted the family and that the incident occurred outside the bus terminal.
He said he can only request the Jhalakati association to take action. If he takes action, they will move their buses to Jhalakathi and won’t allow any bus from Barishal to enter Jhalakathi.
Rupatoli Bus Owners’ Association Lines Secretary Jahangir Hossain Shamim said he was aware of the attack and provided the victims with first aid.