Phulbari Highway Blocked for 4 Hours Over Assault on Bus Passengers

Local residents blocked the Dinajpur-Gobindaganj regional highway for four hours on Sunday afternoon to protest the alleged assault of two bus passengers by transport workers.

The incident began around noon when Mohsin Ali (28) and Sultan Ali (25), both residents of Lakshipur Bazar, boarded a mail bus from Dinajpur. According to the victims, they paid the fare and requested to be dropped off at Lakshipur Bazar. However, an argument broke out when the bus staff refused to stop and attempted to carry them toward the neighboring Birampur Upazila.

The victims alleged that transport workers took them to the Birampur bus stand, where they were tied up and beaten with rods and sticks. They further claimed the workers threatened to frame them in a robbery case before handing them over to the Birampur police.

As news of the assault spread, angry locals in Lakshipur blocked the highway at 1:00 PM. The protest caused an 8-kilometer traffic jam, leaving hundreds of vehicles stranded and causing significant distress to long-distance passengers, including those observing the fast.

Upon receiving the report, Upazila administration and police officials arrived at the scene. After four hours of negotiations, the two youths were released from police custody and brought back to the area. The blockade was lifted at 5:00 PM following assurances from the authorities that legal action would be taken against the culprits.

Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Ahmed Hasan confirmed that the situation is now under control. He stated that the matter would be formally investigated and resolved through a meeting involving transport workers, victims, and local representatives.