ISLAMIC UNIVERSITY, Kushtia, May 29: The Islamic University (IU) transport service costing hundreds of millions of taka annually is not up to the required standard of those whom it is meant for.
To ensure a worthwhile transport service for the general students as well as the teachers, the IU administration spends a substantial amount of money from its annual budget, though to a great extent it is in vain.
Though the authorities spend Tk11o million to Tk 120 million (Tk 11 crore to Tk 12 crore) for the transport service annually, there is no end to complaints about the service to the general students. According to campus sources, there are a total of 46 buses in the transport pool of the university to carry teachers, students, officials, and employees, among which 43 are in regular operation. The rest three have been left in the garage for repair.
Out of the total, the IU transport section operates 32 buses on hire for the day trips. Owners of the buses have to be paid Tk2,150 per trip on the Kushtia route and Tk2,650 per trip on the Jheniadah route.
The annual aggregate expenditure of the transport service is Tk110 to Tk120 million for the scheduled buses, along with the cost of oil and repair for the university's own buses.
In the last fiscal year 2022-23, the total expenditure of the transport service was Tk11, 62,92,583. And in the current financial year 2023-24, from July to December, the total expenditure of the transport service was Tk 5,27,68,233.
General students lament not getting the desired level of transport service despite expanse of a large sum of money.
There are various complaints, including providing fewer bus trips to students than required on various routes, using unfit rental buses, and misbehaviour of bus drivers and helpers with the students.
Meanwhile, the number of students at the university has increased in recent years, but the fleet of vehicles has not increased accordingly. As a result, students have to travel by other modes of transport.
It is alleged, relatively better buses are reserved for teachers, officials, and employees, but unfit rented buses are arranged for students. General students complained that buses without fitness can cause accidents at any time.
The distance between Kushtia and Jhenaidah towns is 24 and 22 kilometres; so it takes about an hour to travel from the campus. Thousands of university students are travelling in these unfit buses every day.
Apparently, the buses hired by the university are plagued with various problems, including broken seats, broken glass, and broken places.
Majidul Islam Ujjal, a fourth-year student at the university, said, "There is no problem with travelling by university bus. But the drivers of the hired buses and their assistants misbehave with us. Drivers stop buses on the way and pick up outside passengers."
Professor Dr Anwar Hossain, the university's transport administrator, said a big budget is needed to organise the transport sector.
"If the government ever gives a big budget, then all the problems can be solved. That's why we cannot take immediate action on any complaints made by the students against the hired buses, in this regard," he added.
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