The bitter tears of CNG autorickshaw drivers

---

IT is only natural that we regularly take offence at the attitude of CNG autorickshaw drivers when they invariably, almost without fail, demand, request or plead, for something extra over what their meter reads at the end of the trip (normally Tk 10). We are incensed and argue and retort that the government has increased the fare on their meters and so why should we have to pay more On rare occasions we win the argument but most times we have to pay that extra amount or they simply refuse to take us. It is another matter that some madmen demand Tk 20-30 above what would be the normal fare and strife and then it is never easy to control your temper.brHowever, there have been many occasions that the Catch-22 situation has been explained to me by those drivers the government raises the fare and the owners of the CNGs raise the amount of money that the drivers have to pay them each day! Yes, the owners now charge the drivers Tk 600 or more each day and they have no choice but to pay; otherwise; they would be out of a job. The other day a younger driver, about 25, was telling me that he had no other trade than driving the auto-rickshaws. He had no skill other than that. Why was he saying that Well he explained that the authorities encourage the drivers to report the anarchic, even criminal, behaviour of the autorickshaw owners. But the moment any driver will do that, he will be out of a job! Which is why the owners can do it with impunity.brBut, sir, we have to think about the guy as well, he said. He has invested money, good money and he sometimes has to pay off a loan so what do you expect him to do After all he is not in the charity business! So we have to suffer.brMy question is, is there any way to get out of this vicious circlebrM Sirajuddin brBara Maghbazar, Dhaka