Extra Fares Being Realized though Fare Lists Hung in Buses

As per the announcement of the Dhaka Road Transport Owners Association, the seating and gate-lock services of buses plying in the capital should have been stopped from last Sunday (November 14). But even on the last day of this week, the seating service and waybill system were not seen to be stopped.

Every day some commuters have been seen getting into heated arguments with transportation workers over the increased fares. The helpers are refusing to realize the bus as per the chart even though the chart is hanging on the buses. They even threatened to stop plying the buses.

Dhaka Road Transport Owners Association contacted the leaders but did not find any answer.

Meanwhile, the secretary-general of the Passenger Welfare Association said that if the waybill is not closed and the fare is not taken as per the chart recommended by the government, then we will call upon strict movement. Prominent citizens of the country called on the government to ensure the safety of passengers.

Meanwhile, if the bus fare anarchy does not stop, we will also go to a legal battle, said Mozammel Haque Chowdhury, secretary-general of the Passenger Welfare Association.

It has been seen that the bus helper was arguing with the passengers on the Maloncho transport from Sutrapur to Mohammadpur. The driver and helper refused to realize the fare even though the government had fixed the chart on the bus. According to the chart fixed by the government, the fare of 14.5 km from Mohammadpur to Dhupkhola has been mentioned as 31 taka. But on the pretext of the waybill, the rent is being taken at 43 taka even on Thursday. Passengers had to pay 12 taka as an additional fare.

When asked, the bus worker angrily said that the bus would stop again in two hours.

Afzal Hossain works in a private office. He said he has to come to the office in Jigatala every day. The waybill of the Maloncho bus has been installed in front of City College. If you don't go to City College, you have to pay an extra 13 taka up to the Jigatala bus stand. And up to City College, they have increased the bus fare by 10 taka. Before it was 25 taka, now it is 35 taka. Every day I have to go to the office after arguing with the bus workers. I do not know when I will get rid of this harassment as a citizen of the country.

Like Afzal Hossain, all the passengers said the same thing. They want to go to work safely. Bangladesh Passengers Welfare Association has agreed with the words of the passengers. The organization's secretary-general Mozammel Haque has demanded legal protection from the ongoing anarchy and harassment of passengers.

He said the bus now has a government-fixed fare chart. Even then extra rent is being realized. If the government does not give a fair solution then we will go into a legal battle.

BUET Accident Research Center Director Prof. Hadiuzzaman said the government was undermining the rights of citizens by increasing bus fares exclusively and indulging in thuggish behavior by transport owners.