Transport fares go up, abnormally
Saturday, 19 September 2009
IT is not only the prices of essentials that make us frustrated. For the past few days the fares of rickshaws, auto-rickshaws and taxicabs have also gone up. You can forget about the meter fare. They don't go by that instrument, at least not in this period leading to Eid. They want more and because of the inclement weather for the past few days. They also get what they demand. We have seen this happening almost everywhere. Whereas people would be outraged and walk away and try another vehicle this time they hold on to it and try to bargain a bit at most times unsuccessfully (even they know they are fighting a losing battle). Eventually they accept the exorbitant fare demanded.
The other day, we had another encounter with the absurd. We hailed a yellow cab. We were going to the BRAC Centre in Mohakhali, and asked him how much he wanted. To make him understand we told him our destination was Gulshan-1. He told us his air conditioner wasn't working so he could not go, sorry. A bit irritated we told him we could do without the air-conditioner specially on a rainy day.
He told us the cops would fine him if they caught him with a knocked out AC. Why? He didn't know exactly why but he had already paid Tk 2000 once and didn't want to repeat the exercise, so no Gulshan or Banani in his vehicle. We told him about the BRAC Centre but in the end he would go no further than the flyover at Mohakhali and we had to get down in the rain and walk to the place. Good that we were carrying extra shirts. Our question is, what is the logic behind this fine? If a passenger agrees to travel in such a vehicle it is no business of the cops to interfere, isn't it?
Maqbul Hossain
Wari, Dhaka
The other day, we had another encounter with the absurd. We hailed a yellow cab. We were going to the BRAC Centre in Mohakhali, and asked him how much he wanted. To make him understand we told him our destination was Gulshan-1. He told us his air conditioner wasn't working so he could not go, sorry. A bit irritated we told him we could do without the air-conditioner specially on a rainy day.
He told us the cops would fine him if they caught him with a knocked out AC. Why? He didn't know exactly why but he had already paid Tk 2000 once and didn't want to repeat the exercise, so no Gulshan or Banani in his vehicle. We told him about the BRAC Centre but in the end he would go no further than the flyover at Mohakhali and we had to get down in the rain and walk to the place. Good that we were carrying extra shirts. Our question is, what is the logic behind this fine? If a passenger agrees to travel in such a vehicle it is no business of the cops to interfere, isn't it?
Maqbul Hossain
Wari, Dhaka