Passengers in Bandarban are facing hardships as long-distance bus services have been suspended in the district following a 48-hour transport strike initiated on Sunday.

The strike was called by the Greater Chittagong Gana Paribahan Malik-Sramik Oikya Parishad in response to an incident of vandalism and arson resulting in the tragic deaths of two Chittagong University of Engineering and Technology (Cuet) students involving a bus.

As a result of the strike, road communication from Bandarban to Chittagong, Cox's Bazar, and Rangamati has been disrupted, leaving many travelers unable to reach their destinations. However, smaller vehicles are still operating within the district.

Umme Hasnat, a school teacher, expressed her dilemma, stating her need to travel to school on Sunday but being unable to find any transportation since morning.

According to driver Md Shamsul Alam, CNG-run auto-rickshaws are charging higher fares, with rates increasing from Tk90 to Tk100 per person due to the strike.

The strike, which commenced at 6 am on Sunday, has halted the movement of buses, minibuses, human haulers, autorickshaws, and auto-tempos in Chittagong district, the metropolis, Cox's Bazar, and three hill districts until 6 am on Tuesday. Employers and workers have been urged to support the strike, with no long-distance buses permitted to enter or leave the affected districts during this period.