Chaos rampant in public transports

Anarchy in public transports continued unabated, as city bus operators overcharged passengers - defying the government's revised transport fares on Sunday.
The bus fare in Dhaka was increased by 35 paisa per kilometre (km) to Tk 2.50 per km, but the passengers on various routes claimed that they were charged more than double.
The Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA) was operating several mobile courts across the capital on the day to ensure that the commuters were charged the correct amounts.
But those efforts by the government were not properly organised. As a result, general people did not get respite from the unethical practitioners.
Heated arguments between the transport workers and the commuters were common in almost all the public transports.
Many were reportedly humiliated and assaulted by the drivers and their assistants. Most of the buses did not display the new fare chart inside.
On the other hand, only a small number of buses were seen plying the streets throughout the day that caused immense sufferings to office-goers.
Tabarul Haque, who travelled to Paltan from Rampura TV centre area by a bus of Akash Paribahan, said the bus authority charged him Tk 25 for a distance of maximum 5.0 km.
"The actual fare would be Tk 12.50 in accordance with the official rate, but I paid double. This is a complete robbery that the bus operators are doing," he said with a tone of frustration.
Habibur Rahman Habib, who travelled to Purana Paltan intersection from Abul Hotel in Malibag by a bus of Victor Classic, said he had to pay Tk 15 for the trip against the previous rate of Tk 10.
"Essential commodities are getting costlier, although our income has not increased for a long time. The latest hike in fuel oil prices has come as the last nail in the coffin," he added.
However, the bus operators said they were charging the passengers in line with the rate-charts, delivered by the owners.
The tariff hike of fuel oils came as a severe blow to the motorbike users also, as people were seen avoiding ridesharing of the two-wheelers, as the bikers claimed mounting fares.
Meanwhile, a mobile court of the Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA) conducted a drive in the capital's Ramna area and fined several buses for overcharging passengers.
"We penalised the buses, as we found evidences of overcharging," BRTA Executive Magistrate Feroza Parveen told the reporters.

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