BNP Brands Hike in Bus Fares ‘Anti-People’

Strongly opposing the government's decision to raise bus fares, the BNP declared on Sunday that the move will bring a fresh attack on the vulnerable as well as on those who missed their means of earnings in the coronavirus shutdown. 

Talking at a virtual press conference from the central office of the BNP in Nayapaltan, the party's senior joint secretary general, Ruhul Kabir Rizvi, urged the government to revoke the 'anti-people' decision immediately.

On Sunday, the government agreed to set rates for long-haul busses and minibuses around the country by 60 per cent to reward transport owners who would be transporting 50 per cent fewer passengers on busses that are normally packed to avoid coronavirus transmission.

The Road Transport and Bridges Ministry issued a gazette notification in this regard on Sunday.

Earlier on Saturday, a committee of Bangladesh Road Transport Authority proposed an 80 per cent rise in bus fares.

Describing the bus-fare decision as to the government's anti-people policy, Rizvi said 'it is also part of the Awami League's principle to add insult to injury.'

He alleged that the vicious policy of the Awami League is to run the country by holding people hostage. "The move to raise bus rates just before the resumption of public services has revealed how the government is manipulating people and causing hardship on the vulnerable."

The BNP leader said the daily-wage earners, rickshaw pullers, lower middle class, and low-income people are going through immense sufferings as many of them have become unemployed.

Under the circumstances, he said, “We strongly condemn and protest the bus-fare hike move. We demand that the decision be withdrawn immediately.”

Bus services will restart in the country on Monday following more than two months of interruption owing to the closure of the coronavirus.

Rizvi expressed fear that the government had placed the country in a deep situation by removing the shutdown at the same time as neighboring India had prolonged the shutdown for another month.

He criticized Awami League general secretary Obaidul Quader for his remark that the government withdrew the general holidays on expert advice. “The entire nation was surprised by such a statement.”

The BNP leader said the government has rather decided to reopen everything ignoring the advice of the WHO, ILO, and health experts.

Source: UNB