Taxicab drivers demand route permit extension
Monday, 9 January 2012
FE Report
Taxicab drivers Sunday demanded extension of route permit for an interim period until new ones hit the roads to help protect the livelihoods of thousands of people.
They also called for the formulation of a law to serve the interests of the drivers as well as passengers.
The demands came at a human chain organised by the Dhaka City Taxicab Drivers' Union, an association of taxi drivers, in front of the National Press Club in the city.
President of the union Julhas Haolader said the Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA) imposed a ban on the licenses of 10,000-odd taxicabs from January 01without providing new cabs, saying that the 10 year validity of the taxicabs expired.
"The decision to scrap the route permit without providing alternative employment for the drivers has put nearly 0.1 million people's at jeopardy," he said.
He said that the taxicab drivers, owners, mechanic workers and their families are totally dependent on the cabs.
Secretary of the union SM Tareque Mahmud said, "In the last 8 years, the price of per unit CNG increased to Tk 30 per unit from Tk 8.0 while octane price went up to Tk 98 per litre from Tk 45."
"But the fare has not been increased. It is now the same as it was eight years back … Tk 40 for first 2 kilometres and Tk 10 for per kilometre next," he said.
Md Shahjahan, a cab driver, said his five member family totally depends on his earnings.
He noted that he earned hardly Tk 300 to Tk 350 after paying daily cab rent and CNG bill, which are Tk 1200 and Tk 800 respectively.
Expressing his concern, he said, "I've been out of work since January 1 and living on a modest savings. I've no idea what would happen when my savings empty out."
Md Rezaul Karim, a driver of his own cab, said prices of the spare parts, Mobil, wheels and so on went up in the country, but the fare rate remained as usual.
If the government doesn't extend the route permit, they would be rendered as street beggars, he said.
However, the union raised a nine-point demand including extension of their route permit and taking legal action against the private cars carrying passengers by bribing the police.
They also demanded re-fixing the fare following the increase in CNG, octane and spare parts' prices.
The union declared they would go for tougher action if their demands are not met.
Taxicab drivers Sunday demanded extension of route permit for an interim period until new ones hit the roads to help protect the livelihoods of thousands of people.
They also called for the formulation of a law to serve the interests of the drivers as well as passengers.
The demands came at a human chain organised by the Dhaka City Taxicab Drivers' Union, an association of taxi drivers, in front of the National Press Club in the city.
President of the union Julhas Haolader said the Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA) imposed a ban on the licenses of 10,000-odd taxicabs from January 01without providing new cabs, saying that the 10 year validity of the taxicabs expired.
"The decision to scrap the route permit without providing alternative employment for the drivers has put nearly 0.1 million people's at jeopardy," he said.
He said that the taxicab drivers, owners, mechanic workers and their families are totally dependent on the cabs.
Secretary of the union SM Tareque Mahmud said, "In the last 8 years, the price of per unit CNG increased to Tk 30 per unit from Tk 8.0 while octane price went up to Tk 98 per litre from Tk 45."
"But the fare has not been increased. It is now the same as it was eight years back … Tk 40 for first 2 kilometres and Tk 10 for per kilometre next," he said.
Md Shahjahan, a cab driver, said his five member family totally depends on his earnings.
He noted that he earned hardly Tk 300 to Tk 350 after paying daily cab rent and CNG bill, which are Tk 1200 and Tk 800 respectively.
Expressing his concern, he said, "I've been out of work since January 1 and living on a modest savings. I've no idea what would happen when my savings empty out."
Md Rezaul Karim, a driver of his own cab, said prices of the spare parts, Mobil, wheels and so on went up in the country, but the fare rate remained as usual.
If the government doesn't extend the route permit, they would be rendered as street beggars, he said.
However, the union raised a nine-point demand including extension of their route permit and taking legal action against the private cars carrying passengers by bribing the police.
They also demanded re-fixing the fare following the increase in CNG, octane and spare parts' prices.
The union declared they would go for tougher action if their demands are not met.