Better behaviour on public buses

In a meeting of transport workers in Dhaka on Saturday (April 20), bus-association leader Shahidullah Shahin requested all workers to behave properly with their bus passengers. Otherwise, strict measures including expulsion from the workers' organisation, and legal actions, will be taken against them, he said.

Shahin's warning is a positive change. I often ride buses while going to destinations in and outside Dhaka. Arguments between passengers and bus staff are an everyday phenomenon. The issues usually are about half-fares to be paid by the students, charging excessive fair, taking additional passengers on board the bus etc. Sometimes the disputes turn into physical fights.

I feel that passengers should also behave politely with the bus staff. They work hard throughout the day.

I think meetings, attended by representatives of passengers, bus workers and owners associations and held every now-and-then, can improve bus staff-passenger relationship. The decisions of the meetings can be widely circulated in the media so that everyone can become more aware.

M A Islam

Dhanmondi, Dhaka