Writ Seeks Half Fare in Public Transport for Students

A writ petition has been filed in the High Court seeking directions to halve the fares of all types of public-private buses, launches and trains for students across the country.

In the writ petition, the Secretary of the Ministry of Home Affairs, the Secretary of the Ministry of Shipping, the Secretary of the Bridges Department of the Ministry of Road Transport and Bridges, the Secretary of the Ministry of Railways and the IG of Police have been made defendants.

Advocate Yunus Ali Akand filed the writ petition in the concerned branch of the High Court on Wednesday (November 24).

The writ petition seeks an interim order to halve the rent for students. Besides, a request has been made to issue a rule asking why all transport fares for students should not be instructed to be halved.

According to the writ petition, Article 17 of the constitution guarantees education to the government. That is why the cost of education should be borne by the government.

The writ petition could be heard in a High Court bench comprising Justice M Enayetur Rahim and Justice Mohammad Mostafizur Rahman, the petitioner's lawyer said.

The lawyer said the bus fare was increased this month due to the rise in oil prices. The students have been demanding for halve of the fare. In the last few days, there have been unfortunate incidents of transport workers with students demanding this in several places including Science-lab and Farm-gate in Dhaka.