Online Desk : More than 15,000 ready-made garments’ (RMG) workers came to Rangpur by reserving 300 BRTC buses from Dhaka to celebratethe Eid-ul-Fitr festivity with their family members this year.
Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, many RMG workers could not come home for
celebrating the Eid festivities in the last two years.
This time, some 15,000 workers hailing from different upazilas of Rangpur and
adjoining areas arrived here by reserving some 200 double-decker and 100
single-decker BRTC buses in a couple of days before the Eid-ul-Fitr
festivity.
Talking to BSS, Rangpur BRTC Bus Depot official Shahadat Hossain said around
15,000 RMG workers have come to Rangpur by reserving more than 300 double-
decker and single-decker BRTC buses.
“These BRTC buses ply on different routes in Dhaka. After the Eid holidays,
the buses started returning to Dhaka with the workers from today after
staying in Rangpur for five to seven days,” he said.
Mohammad Alam Khan, a driver of a BRTC double-decker bus parked in the 20-
megawatt power plant area in the city, said, “Our double-decker bus runs on
the Mirpur-Gulistan route in the capital.
“The garment workers have reserved the bus for five days and come to Rangpur
to celebrate the Eid-ul-Fitr festivity this time,” he said, adding that the
workers have already started returning to Dhaka from today.
Abdus Salam, a helper of a BRTC double-decker bus, said 70 garment workers
have reserved their double-decker bus.
In the Modern Mour Intersection area of the city, more than 30 BRTC double-
decker buses were lined up on the side of the Rangpur-Dhaka highway.
“My home is in Pirgachha upazila of Rangpur,” said Moslem Uddin, an assistant
to the driver of a double-decker BRTC bus.
“I could not come home during the last two years. This time, I came home
along with the garment workers. I’m also returning to Dhaka with the workers
after the Eid holidays today,” he said.
District Relief and Rehabilitation Officer Mohammad Motahar Hossain said some
four lakh workers from Gangachara, Kawnia, Pirgachha, Sadar, Mithapukur,
Taraganj and Badarganj upazilas of Rangpur are working in different garments
factories in Dhaka, Savar, Gazipur and Narayanganj districts.
Officer-in-Charge (OC) of Pirgachha Police Station in Rangpur Suresh Chandra
said more than 60 BRTC double-decker buses brought the garments workers of
Pirgachha upazila from Dhaka this time.
“They have come to celebrate the Eid-ul-Fitr festivity. We have ensured their
overall security,” he added.
Garments workers Saleha Akhter of Porshuram area and Asma Begum of Khotkhotia
area in Rangpur city said they came from Dhaka to celebrate Eid-ul-Fitr
festivity with their family members after two years due to the pandemic
situation.
“I have come home by the BRTC reserved bus to celebrate Eid-ul-Fitr after two
years. I stayed at home for five days and spent these days with my relatives.
I am returning to Dhaka today,” said Asma.
Rangpur BRTC Bus Depot official Mohammad Aslam said, “The buses are staying
in Rangpur city. After the Eid holidays, the buses have started returning to
Dhaka with the workers from today.”
He expressed gratitude to the law enforcement agencies for ensuring the
safety of the drivers, helpers and other staff of the reserved BRTC buses.
