Eid tickets being overcharged

Road, air and waterway tickets are being overcharged arbitrarily, thereby creating anarchy ahead of Eid, says a passenger rights group, calling for an immediate end to this anarchy.

In such a chaotic situation, extra fares ranging from Tk 300-1,500 are being charged for AC-non/AC buses on various routes from Dhaka to northern region this year, according to the Bangladesh Jatri Kalyan Samity.

"Double fares are being charged on buses on various routes from Chittagong to the country's north," it said in a statement on Sunday based on such information from Comilla, Noakhali, Feni, Bogura, Naogaon, Panchagarh and Thakurgaon.

Meanwhile, advance Eid tickets are being sold arbitrarily at extra fares on various routes in the southern region from Sadarghat river port in Dhaka.

Fare "robbery" is going on various domestic air routes, including Dhaka-Saidpur, Dhaka-Cox's Bazar and Dhaka-Chittagong flights.

Mozammel Haque Chowdhury, secretary general of the association, demanded an end to the anarchy of charging extra fares and passenger harassment on all routes during Eid trips immediately.

Although the government has warned of strict measures to stop the collection of additional fares, illegal means of overcharging trippers are being adopted for public buses and launches of various classes.

The Bangladesh Road Transport Authority and the Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority have formed a vigilance team of owners to monitor the collection of extra fares arbitrarily, excluding passenger representatives.

"Who will look after the interests of passengers?" posing this query, Mr Chowdhury said toll collection from roads has decreased in the changed situation.

"Yet, passengers are being deprived of reaping the benefits because the fares have not been reduced," he remarked.

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