Desk Report
Published: 08 Nov 2021, 06:38 pm
Representational Image || Photo: Collected
Buses
have resumed operations since yesterday evening after a 60-hour strike over
rising diesel and kerosene prices. Passengers have expressed their anger on the
first day of the increased fare. There have even been incidents of clashes
between transport workers and passengers. Meanwhile, the increase in fares has
been sharply criticized by urban transport experts, eminent people, consumer
rights organizations and those associated with the passenger rights movement.
Their
claim, the decision is one-sided. As always, the passengers have been affected.
This time too the unjust pressure of the transport owners has been accepted.
The interests of the passengers did not matter. Due to the reckless increase in
the price of diesel due to the recklessness of some government officials, the
people have had to suffer.
Talking
to Khandaker Abdul Matin, a government official who was on his way to the
office in the morning, he said, "I, a government official, have been
traveling to the office for the last three days with a lot of rent." Today
I got on the bus from Moghbazar to Mohammadpur and heard that the fare has
increased by 10 taka.
Monir
Hossain, another passenger on his way to the office, said he paid Tk 35 for the
bus fare from Gulistan to Uttara till yesterday and today he paid Tk 50.
Expressing displeasure over the increase in bus fare by Tk 15, he said,
"Our salary is not increasing." How much does this rent go up every
month? There is no one to speak for us.
Meanwhile,
the Secretary-General of the Passenger Welfare Association Md Mozammel Haque
Chowdhury rejected the fare, saying the government did not include any
passenger representatives in the decision. The government has increased fares
exclusively based on the views of transport owners. We strongly protest against
such rent increase.