Excessive fares throws public transportation into chaos
Skip to main content
  • Home
  • Economy
    • Aviation
    • Bazaar
    • Budget
    • Industry
    • NBR
    • RMG
    • Corporates
  • Stocks
  • Analysis
  • World+Biz
  • Sports
  • Features
    • Book Review
    • Brands
    • Earth
    • Explorer
    • Fact Check
    • Family
    • Food
    • Game Reviews
    • Good Practices
    • Habitat
    • Humour
    • In Focus
    • Luxury
    • Mode
    • Panorama
    • Pursuit
    • Wealth
    • Wellbeing
    • Wheels
  • Epaper
  • More
    • Subscribe
    • Videos
    • Thoughts
    • Splash
    • Bangladesh
    • Supplement
    • Infograph
    • Archive
    • COVID-19
    • Games
    • Long Read
    • Interviews
    • Offbeat
    • Podcast
    • Quiz
    • Tech
    • Trial By Trivia
    • Magazine
  • বাংলা
The Business Standard

Saturday
January 28, 2023

Sign In
Subscribe
  • Home
  • Economy
    • Aviation
    • Bazaar
    • Budget
    • Industry
    • NBR
    • RMG
    • Corporates
  • Stocks
  • Analysis
  • World+Biz
  • Sports
  • Features
    • Book Review
    • Brands
    • Earth
    • Explorer
    • Fact Check
    • Family
    • Food
    • Game Reviews
    • Good Practices
    • Habitat
    • Humour
    • In Focus
    • Luxury
    • Mode
    • Panorama
    • Pursuit
    • Wealth
    • Wellbeing
    • Wheels
  • Epaper
  • More
    • Subscribe
    • Videos
    • Thoughts
    • Splash
    • Bangladesh
    • Supplement
    • Infograph
    • Archive
    • COVID-19
    • Games
    • Long Read
    • Interviews
    • Offbeat
    • Podcast
    • Quiz
    • Tech
    • Trial By Trivia
    • Magazine
  • বাংলা
SATURDAY, JANUARY 28, 2023
Excessive fares throws public transportation into chaos

Bangladesh

Md Jahidul Islam & Foisal Ahmed
10 November, 2021, 09:30 pm
Last modified: 10 November, 2021, 09:33 pm

Related News

  • Fare of Dhaka-Ctg route Subarna Express train hiked
  • Countries that dominate the maritime freight transport
  • Russia's Putin and Iran's Raisi discuss energy and transport in telephone call
  • 15 more bus operators to introduce e-ticketing today
  • Instead of restricting long-haul buses, Dhaka mayors aim for less counters inside city

Excessive fares throws public transportation into chaos

Transport leaders say there will be no seating service and gate-lock service in Dhaka

Md Jahidul Islam & Foisal Ahmed
10 November, 2021, 09:30 pm
Last modified: 10 November, 2021, 09:33 pm
Representational Image. Photo: Reuters
Representational Image. Photo: Reuters

Authorities are failing to prevent bus operators, including those of CNG-run buses, from charging passengers exorbitant fares, above the recent 27% price hike.

Fares have also doubled for some routes.

To ensure that commuters are charged the fixed fares, the Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA) is conducting a number of mobile courts across the capital, but these efforts are yet to yield any positive result.

Harassing passengers and taking excess fare in the name of seating service will not be tolerated and will be cracked down on, warned Khandaker Enayet Ullah, secretary general of Bangladesh Road Transport Owners Association (BRTOA), while speaking at a press briefing jointly organised by the BRTOA and the Bangladesh Road Transport Workers Federation on Wednesday in Dhaka.

"We have been receiving complaints that excess fare is being taken which is illegal," said Enayet Ullah, urging operators to stop charging more than the government fixed fare.

The CNG-run buses have to take the previous fare, said Enayet, adding that out of 120 transport companies within Dhaka city, only 13 used CNG-powered buses.

"The 13 companies have only 196 buses in total that use CNG fuel. Out of 6,000 vehicles, only 3.26% are CNG-powered".

The secretary general said 11 vigilance teams will be formed on Wednesday afternoon to ensure that passengers are not charged excess fare within the Dhaka metropolitan area. 

While reading out a written statement on behalf of the owners and workers, he noted the teams will be supervised in coordination with BRTA and Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP).

"Stickers, provided by owners associations, will be used to differentiate between diesel and CNG-run buses," Enayet added.

The government increased the fares for intracity and long-haul buses by 26.5% and 27% respectively, following demands from bus owners of the country after a hike in diesel prices.

Meanwhile, at the meeting it was also decided that the "seating service" and "gate-lock service" will be abolished in Dhaka city within the next three days.

Enayet said the chaos stemming from these two systems arise both due to conductors and passengers. Now, whether a person is sitting on the journey or standing, the fare will be the same, he added.

 

Commuters' struggle sees no end

The Business Standard, during visits to different parts of the capital on Wednesday, found several bus companies violating government directives and forcing commuters to pay 50%-100% extra.

A number of passengers complained that they had to pay Tk10 to Tk30 more than they used to, which amounts to an increase of over 50%.

Heated arguments between transport workers and commuters were a common sight in Karwan Bazar, Mirpur, Shahbagh, Banglamotor, Gabtoli and Shyamoli areas.

Many passengers alleged that they were humiliated and assaulted by drivers and their assistants. Some were even forced off the buses for refusing to pay the demanded fare.

Most of the buses still did not have the new fare chart displayed inside.

Saleha Begum, who was travelling to ECB intersection from Mirpur 10 on a bus of Rajdhani Super Service, said she had to pay Tk10 more than the previous fare.

"They [bus owners] are hiking fares at their will. But our salaries haven't increased. Everyone, except the general people, are valued in this country," she said.

Another company, Porirsthan Transport, was seen charging passengers Tk40 for a trip from Abdullahpur to Shyamoli against the previous fare of Tk30.

Even the government-run Bangladesh Road Transport Corporation (BRTC) was taking more than the government-fixed fare.

Zakir Hossain, a BRTC bus helper, had been taking Tk10 for a journey from Mirpur-10 to Shyamoli. After the hike in fares, he has begun charging Tk15. According to the hike, however, the fare should be Tk13.

Contacted, BRTA spokesperson and Director Mahbub-E-Rabbani said, "We are working to bring the situation under control quickly. Mobile courts are being operated in Dhaka to punish those who are overcharging the passengers."

Earlier, following a meeting between the BRTA and transport leaders at the BRTA headquarters on Tuesday, a decision was taken to conduct joint drives in Dhaka city from Thursday to stop overcharging.

Regarding this, BRTA Chairman Nur Mohammad Mazumder said they had received a number of allegations of overcharging and so they were conducting the drives.

Eleven executive magistrates of BRTA and the DMP, police personnel, and representatives of the transport associations will take part in the drives, he added.

Top News

Bus / transport / fare

Comments

While most comments will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive, moderation decisions are subjective. Published comments are readers’ own views and The Business Standard does not endorse any of the readers’ comments.

Top Stories

  • How will Bangladesh pay for massive upcoming power projects this year?
    How will Bangladesh pay for massive upcoming power projects this year?
  • Israeli forces work next to a covered body at the scene of a shooting attack in Neve Yaacov which lies on occupied land that Israel annexed to Jerusalem after the 1967 Middle East war January 27, 2023. REUTERS/Ammar Awad
    Seven dead in synagogue attack outside Jerusalem
  •  Gautam Adani, center.Photographer: Tomohiro Ohsumi/Bloomberg
    What really worries Indians about Adani's empire

MOST VIEWED

  • Picture: Collected
    US Embassy condemns recent incidents of visa fraud
  • Four top bankers arrested in DSA case filed by S Alam group 
    Four top bankers arrested in DSA case filed by S Alam group 
  • Photo: Saqlain Rizve
    Bangladeshi university students identified as problematic users of Facebook, internet: Study
  • Bapex calls candidates for job test 9 years after advert!
    Bapex calls candidates for job test 9 years after advert!
  • Matarbari coal-power plant, one of the projects funded by Japan International Cooperation Agency (Jica)-funded projects.
    More than 50% Japan-funded projects lagging behind
  • Ctg Port Gets A Boost: The Chattogram port officially starts to berth vessels with 10 metres drought on Monday. As of now, only 9.5m draught vessels could anchor at the port, each carrying 2,500 TEUs. But the 10m draught ship will be able to carry 4,000 TEUs, bumping up the port’s container handling capacity and bringing down costs. The photo was taken recently from the port area. Photo: Mohammed Minhaj Uddin
    Dollar crisis: 3 ships with 54,000 tonnes of goods get stuck at Ctg port

Related News

  • Fare of Dhaka-Ctg route Subarna Express train hiked
  • Countries that dominate the maritime freight transport
  • Russia's Putin and Iran's Raisi discuss energy and transport in telephone call
  • 15 more bus operators to introduce e-ticketing today
  • Instead of restricting long-haul buses, Dhaka mayors aim for less counters inside city

Features

Sketch:TBS

Why we need consumer education for consumer wellbeing

17h | Thoughts
Dr Ahsan H Mansur, Executive Director, Policy Research Institute. Illustration: TBS

Twin shocks call for stronger domestic policy response

18h | Thoughts
December-er shohor, taxi taken for airport and the Park Street bathed in lights. Photo: Jannatul Naym Pieal

Exploring Kolkata on foot, empowered by Google Maps

18h | Explorer
Island hopping in Bangladesh?

Island hopping in Bangladesh?

20h | Panorama

More Videos from TBS

Kajol’s road paintings bring change in Gafargaon

Kajol’s road paintings bring change in Gafargaon

1d | TBS Stories
Carew & Company witnessed a remarkable growth

Carew & Company witnessed a remarkable growth

1d | TBS Stories
Gavi may have to leave Camp Nou

Gavi may have to leave Camp Nou

7h | TBS SPORTS
After all the controversies, how is Shah Rukh Khan's ‘Pathaan’?

After all the controversies, how is Shah Rukh Khan's ‘Pathaan’?

9h | TBS Entertainment

Most Read

1
Picture: Collected
Bangladesh

US Embassy condemns recent incidents of visa fraud

2
Four top bankers arrested in DSA case filed by S Alam group 
Bangladesh

Four top bankers arrested in DSA case filed by S Alam group 

3
Illustration: TBS
Banking

16 banks at risk of capital shortfall if top 3 borrowers default

4
Photo: Collected
Splash

Hansal Mehta responds as Twitter user calls him 'shameless' for making Faraaz

5
A frozen Beyond Burger plant-based patty. Photographer: AKIRA for Bloomberg Businessweek
Bloomberg Special

Fake meat was supposed to save the world. It became just another fad

6
Representational Image
Banking

Cash-strapped Islami, Al-Arafah and National turn to Sonali Bank for costly fund

EMAIL US
[email protected]
FOLLOW US
WHATSAPP
+880 1847416158
The Business Standard
  • About Us
  • Contact us
  • Sitemap
  • Privacy Policy
  • Comment Policy
Copyright © 2023
The Business Standard All rights reserved
Technical Partner: RSI Lab

Contact Us

The Business Standard

Main Office -4/A, Eskaton Garden, Dhaka- 1000

Phone: +8801847 416158 - 59

Send Opinion articles to - [email protected]

For advertisement- [email protected]