Transport workers in Rajshahi called an indefinite strike on Monday, protesting the assault of five bus workers reportedly by the CNG run auto-rickshaw drivers in Tanore upazila earlier in the day.

Due this strike all bus services from Rajshahi to different destinations have been suspended.

The strike follows an alleged assault on Monday, where six bus drivers and helpers were allegedly attacked by CNG-run three-wheeler drivers.

Nazrul Islam Helal, general secretary of the Rajshahi Road Transport Group, said they called the strike protesting the attack and all busses on the short and long routes have stopped operating.

He said CNG-run three-wheeler are not authorised to ply the highways. There is a long-standing dispute between three-wheeler operators and bus operators.

A meeting with three-wheeler drivers was held recently and it was decided that only 40 three-wheelers would ply the roads per day.

Despite the agreement, over 100 CNGs allegedly kept plying the Rajshahi-Tanore route daily, disrupting and bus service that incurred losses to bus operators.

As the bus workers protested the incident on Monday morning, workers of three-wheelers attacked them, leaving some of them injured, Helal said, adding that the injured workers are being treated at Rajshahi Medical College Hospital.

Meanwhile, denying the allegation, Tanore upazila CNG Owners` Association president Kudrat said none of the association members were involved in incident.

Mizanur Rahman, officer-in-charge of Tanore Police Station, said that the transport leaders filed a written complaint in this connection and they were investigating the matter.