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Fix fare of human haulers to stop anarchy: JKS


Published : 15 Nov 2021 10:52 PM

Bangladesh Jatri Kalyan Samity (JKS) has submitted a memorandum to Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader demanding individual fares for all vehicles including CNG-powered human haulers, auto-tempo and auto-rickshaw.

The memorandum, signed by the organisation’s Secretary General Md Mozammel Haque Chowdhury, was submitted on Monday. The memorandum stated that with the increase in diesel prices, the government has only increased the fares of diesel-powered bus-minibuses. However, additional fares are being charged in CNG-powered human haulers, auto-tempo and auto-rickshaws.

Leaders and activists of the organisation across the country, observing the overall scenario of fare anarchy and harassment of the passengers, found that the fares of these vehicles have been increased at an unusual rate.

“According to the Road Transport Act 2018, the government has the power to fix the fares of all types of public transport. However, due to the lack of fare fixation, the transport workers are charging fares according to their wish,” it added. 

According to the memorandum, the passengers are being ill-treated by the transport workers while protesting against the extra fare. The law enforcement agencies are also failing to protect the passengers as there is no fixed fare list from the government for these vehicles.

It also said that for over a decade, the Bangladesh Jatri Kalyan Samity had made several requests to the Ministry of Road Transport and Bridges and Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA) to fix the fares of these vehicles. 

Before fixing the fares of these vehicles, the organisation demanded to reconstitute the Public Transport Fare Analysis Committee and the Fare Determination Committee and keep passenger representatives in proportion to the number of owners and workers.