Clicky
National

Extra fare charged in transport


Published : 10 Aug 2019 09:38 PM | Updated : 05 Sep 2020 07:29 PM

Transport workers are allegedly charging excessive fare from the home bound passengers ahead of Eid-ul-Adha, despite deployment of additional vigilance by the law enforcers at bus stops in city and elsewhere. Passengers belonging to the poor, middle class and lower-middle class group are facing serious problems while traveling back home as they have to pay fares at least 3 to 4 times higher in bus or other modes of transport.

Transport workers are asking Tk 150 whereas the normal fare would be Tk 80, asking Tk 60 when actual price is Tk 30, asking Tk 300 to 400 when actual fare is Tk 90 and asking Tk 1300 when the actual fare is Tk 600 to 700, sources said. Visiting different bus stops in city, this correspondent found that home-goers were waiting road side from Pallabi to Agargaon for want of vehicles to move to Sadarghat launch terminal, Mohakahali bus stand, Gabtoli bus stand and Kamlapur railway stations in the capital.

Md Akash, a passenger travelling to Faridpur, was seen waiting at Gabtoli Bus terminal, told Bangladesh Post, “The transport workers are keeping extra fare from the passengers as their wish. The fare from Gabtoli to Paturia Ghat is Tk 90 but they are taking Tk 300 to Tk 500.” Asadur Rahman, 45, a passenger for Mymensingh, “The injustice is too much and intolerable. Although there is no problem on the highway, they are keeping Tk 150 whereas the actual fare is Tk 80. It is not as if this syndicate of transport workers is only active during Eid, they also become active at different festivals and long holidays. There is no one to keep these irregularities in check.”

Mujibur Rahman, the driver of the bus acknowledged of taking extra fare and said, “The fare is being taken a little higher on the occasion of Eid. It will be normal after four to five days, when the pressure of passengers will reduce.” Sakila, 35, a garment worker, told Bangladesh Post, “From Mawna to Joydebpur, the actual fare is Tk 30 but they are taking Tk 60.”

While asked in this regard, Jasim Uddin, driver of Provati Banasree Paribahan said, “We take limited fare all year round. We have kept some extra fare from those who are giving willingly, and have not kept from those who don’t feel like giving. We will take regular fare from Friday.” The same allegations have come from Prince, who is working in a private company in Dhaka.

Prince said, “The actual fare from Dhaka to Mawna is Tk 60 to Tk 70, but, they are keeping Tk 150.” Garment workers Sohag Mia, Masum Billah, Russell Sharif, Rumana Akhter, Malaika Begum and Beauty Akhter, who were waiting to travel from Dhaka to Gazipur, said they work in garment factories. The salary that they get is not enough for their family.

They also said that the extra fare has brought about extra burden for them. Officer In charge of Sreepur Police Station Zabedul Islam said, “No one has complained to us about taking extra fare. Law enforcing agencies are always aware about passengers’ suffering.” Although the actual fare of Dhaka to Rangpur is Tk 600 to 700, Alif Paribahan kept it Tk 1300. For this allegation, Police arrested the driver and helper of this transport.

Bus owners and workers have been accused of collecting extra fares from passengers from Paturia and Aricha Ghat. Consumers complain that the owners and transport workers are taking extra fares from them by creating artificial crisis of transports with the help of influential people. Meanwhile, due to the bus crisis, passengers are traveling at high risk even in open trucks, pickup vans, rickshaws along with buses.