Bus services to Dhaka suspended indefinitely

The rebellion in Bangladesh Rifles has brought to a halt the bus services between Dhaka and the two Indian cities of Kolkata and Agartala for an indefinite period causing hardships to commuters.

The Agartala-Dhaka and Dhaka-Kolkata bus services have been suspended for an indefinite period, Bangladesh Road Transport Corporation (BRTC) sources said here yesterday.

BRTC and its Indian counterparts in Tripura and West Bengal had been operating the bus services between the two countries.

The Tripura Chief Minister Manik Sarkar said the situation was a cause for concern for his state.

"The rebellion that broke out in the headquarters of the border guards of neighbouring Bangladesh is a matter of concern for the people of Tripura. However, our BSF is keeping a close vigil," Sarkar told reporters here.

Together with vehicular movement, trade activities have also stopped at Petrapole in West Bengal and Akhaura check post here, Indian customs officials said.

Meanwhile, hundreds of outposts along the Indo-Bangla border are on maximum alert to ensure safety and security of people living in the border areas, BSF spokesman AK Singh said.