Commuters charge extra fare, passengers disappointed
21 April 2023
Syed Shemul Parvez :
Only one to two days left for Eid. But anarchy is continuing marking the Eid journey across the country. It is known that all of the busses, including the BRTC bus, are taking extra fare from the passengers for eid tips. As a result, all the passengers are disappointed due to exaggerated bus fare.
On Thursday. It was seen on the spot that bus fare from Fulbaria in Gulistan to Barisal is Tk 400. The fare has increased from Tk 800 to Tk 900 for Eid trip. Bus fare from Fulbaria in Gulistan to Bhanga in Faridpur is Tk 250. The fare on this route is now double - 450 to 500 taka.
Ahmad Ali (33) works in a private company in Malibagh of the capital. On Thursday (April 20) afternoon, he came to the bus counter to go to his village home Patuakhali.
Ahmad Ali told the media, Eid is after one or two days. I will celebrate Eid with my family at the village house. But additional fare is being sought on that occasion. Earlier, I used to go home with a fare of taka 400. On the occasion of Eid, the bus fare is asking 800 to 900 taka. Some bus helpers are demanding 1000 taka.
In this regard, the bus driver says that they normally bring an empty bus when they comeback. For this reason they have to take double fare.
Another passenger named Abu Raihan said, "My house is in Bhanga, Faridpur." The bus fare from Fulbaria to Bhanga is Tk 250. But 500 to 550 taka is being charged on the occasion of Eid. Everything, including everyday goods, is already expensive. Now the car fare is also being charged double. We are helpless. We have nothing to do, he added.
Deputy Inspector Monirul Islam of Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) control room in
Fulbaria said that the police are working to control the vehicles to make the Eid journey comfortable. BRTA and district administration are running mobile courts. No one complained to us about overcharge. If you complain, we will also look into the matter.
It was seen on the spot that thousands of homebound passengers were waiting at the bus counters at Syedabad Bus Terminal in the capital. Passengers were complaining that the bus is not leaving on schedule.
Apart from this, the victim passengers also complained of taking extra fare. Along with intolerable suffering from heat.
A passenger named Rakib Hossain said that the fare was taka 400-450 at other times, but due to Eid, the rent was taka 700 to 800. We are compelled to take it. There is no one to see these things, he said.
At Jatrabari bus stand, a lot of homebound people were seen to wait for bus.
A young man Abir Hasan was waiting to get a bus of Shariatpur. He has already confirmed ticket of Padma bus competing with hundreds of people. But after waiting three and half an hour, he couldn't get the chance to enter the bus due to huge passengers. Apart from, our regular bus fare is taka 250. But all the bus taking taka 400 to 500 marking the Eid tips.
Deputy Commissioner (DC) of Traffic Wari zone told the New Nation that our operations and efforts are on to stop charging extra fare from the passengers. If anybody complains over the issue, we must take stern action against Bus owners, he said.
In this regards, Chairman of Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA) Noor Mohammad Majumdar said that we have not received any complaint of additional fare collection. Action will be taken if complaints are received.
