Bus services suspended on Joypurhat-Akkelpur route due to competition from easy bikes and trains
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Bus services on the Joypurhat-Akkelpur route have been suspended for eight months as operators struggle to compete with the proliferation of battery-run easy bikes and train services. The decline in passenger demand has rendered the route financially unviable for bus owners, many of whom have since sold their vehicles to mitigate ongoing losses.
The 20-kilometer route, which first began operations in the 1980s, historically saw up to 30 buses running daily with departures every 15 minutes. However, the rise of easy bikes, which offer passengers greater flexibility for boarding and disembarking at convenient locations, has steadily eroded the bus ridership. Commuters have increasingly shifted to these three-wheelers and local trains, citing shorter travel times and more affordable fares compared to the current bus fare of 40 taka.
Industry stakeholders and regular passengers point to operational inefficiencies as a primary driver for the shift in transport preference. Beyond the competition from smaller vehicles, passengers have criticized the bus services for frequent, unauthorized stops, poor service quality, and a lack of adherence to strict time schedules. These factors often lead to longer transit times, prompting commuters to favor the convenience and comfort of easy bikes, which typically adhere to seat limits.
Bus driver Raju Hossain noted that before the suspension, buses frequently operated at less than half capacity, failing to cover basic costs such as fuel and labor. Bus owner Shafiqul Huda Chowdhury confirmed that owners struggled for years to compete with hundreds of easy bikes and CNG-run autorickshaws operating on the same route. Despite efforts to curb the growth of these smaller vehicles, operators found it impossible to sustain their businesses, eventually forcing a complete cessation of services.
Atiur Rabbi Tiyas, General Secretary of the Akkelpur Nagorik Committee, emphasized that while residents currently rely on trains and easy bikes, the restoration of a reliable bus service is essential for the region’s connectivity.
Anisur Rahman Liton, General Secretary of the Joypurhat District Bus-Minibus Owners Group, acknowledged the significant financial losses suffered by operators on the route. He stated that the organization is now planning to reintroduce services by extending the route to include direct travel from Joypurhat through Akkelpur to Bogura. Officials indicated that this initiative is expected to launch in the near future to better serve passenger demand.
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