The taxi problem

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IT is increasingly frustrating to deal with taxis and CNG auto-rickshaws these days. The first thing that one has to be prepared to for is a reject: no he won't go there or there. In fact he will go only to the destination of his choice. Then comes the question of the fare. The common thing that taxi drivers do is tell you he wants Tk 100 to go to short distances even though the fare in the meter will probably come to Tk 50. The CNG auto-rickshaw without fail will ask for Tk 10 added to the fare and sometimes he will charge you a fare that comes to something like Tk 20 added to what is the normal fare for that destination.
What is happening? We have heard so much about drivers being hauled up by the law enforcers for refusing passengers or for charging more. Apparently those few acts have had no effect on these people and they continue to charge as they please.
There is also this phenomenon that they have to return to their garages by 9:00 pm and if it is an hour or so before that time he will only go where his garage is. Something has to be done about the taxi system. After all this is a capital city, for heavens sake!
MA Karim
Bangshal
Dhaka