BRTC seeks Tk 100m to offset turmoil losses

Munima Sultana | Published: March 05, 2015 00:00:00 | Updated: November 30, 2024 06:01:00

After the private transport operators, the state-owned Bangladesh Road Transport Corporation (BRTC) has now sought Tk 100 million (10 crore) from the Prime Minister's fund to offset the loss caused by political turmoil during the last two years.
BRTC has assessed the loss, as its 203 buses were either torched or damaged in arson and vandalism from 2013 to 2015.
Sources said BRTC's claimed loss during the ongoing political volatility, which started on January 5, was insignificant. But the state-owned corporation placed the increased demand to recoup its previous loss.
BRTC estimated Tk 8.0 million loss against 40 buses that were set afire and damaged in 2015. It, however, showed that some 121 buses were damaged and 46 others torched in 2013, and sought Tk 99 million for the loss.
"We cannot keep our buses off the road, considering the sufferings of people during the political turmoil. So our transports become victims to arson and vandalism," said BRTC chairman Md Mizanur Rahman.
When asked about why the compensation for the loss faced in 2013 is being demanded now, the chairman said it was not claimed then for unknown reasons.
Sources said BRTC sought the compensation after the private bus operators received over Tk 42 million from the Prime Minister's fund for the loss they faced since the current political turmoil.
BRTC has assessed the loss on the basis of the number of damaged buses, and not on the basis of its operational loss. Chinese and Indian buses are highest in number among the damaged buses.
But most of the buses torched or damaged in 2013 were overhauled different times, they added.
Bangladesh Road Transport Owners Association leader Khandaker Enayetullah told the FE that the fund is given as a portion of the association's demand for compensation against damage to 823 buses. Officials said BRTC is now operating around 700 buses on different routes against its capacity of 1,000 buses.
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