Transport owners agree not to raise fares now

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Munima Sultana Transport leaders have made the government accept most of the demands of their 11-point charter, including legalisation of fake driving licences, by playing the card of fare hike in line with the latest fuel price hike, sector insiders said. They said representatives of various transport owners and workers associations have now agreed not to increase fares in proportion with the latest fuel price hike. The transport owners and workers raised 11 demands from a rally on October 24 in the city. "The transport associations' leaders agreed not to increase bus fares this time, as there is a possibility of another fuel price hike soon. Besides, the government has accepted most of their demands," said an official, preferring anonymity. Since the issue of fuel price hike was reported in the media, the leaders had a number of confidential meetings with the communications minister and the shipping minister, and made the government accept their demands. Regarding the fake licence issue, Bangladesh Paribahan Malik-Sramik Oikya Parisad (BPMSOP) has changed the demand to enlisting their drivers to the volume of Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA). Officials said the BRTA has identified more than 25,000 fake driving licences after it took over the charge of issuing driving licence from the police in early '90s. They said these fake driving licences were possible to produce, as the Bangladesh Post Office, responsible to renew licenses only, issued additional number of licences without verifying the applicants' validity. The shipping minister has so far been demanding legalisation of these licences. Sources said though the Ministry of Communications is not responsible for fulfilling many of the BPMSOP's 11-point demands, the meeting reached a consensus to issue letters to the ministries and organisations concerned in favour of the associations, so that those demands can also be realised. Following the associations' demand the government has already agreed not to file murder cases against drivers associated with accidents and subsequent loss of life under section 302 of the Penal Code, but to file cases under the section 304b, said officials. Besides, getting hold of Fulbari Bus Terminal as a city bus stopover and reduction of import duty on tire and tube to half were also among the major demands of BPMSOP, realised in the meeting. However, officials, who attended most of the meetings held between the two ministers and leaders of owners and workers, said some positive decisions were taken.