Over half of buses are operating on different routes in and around Dhaka city violating of traffic rules.
Out of 7,091 buses operating on 128 routes in the capital, only 3,427 of them operate as per rules. But 3,664 buses have no route permits and fitness certificates or they violate route permits.
An internal survey conducted by Dhaka Transport Coordination Authority (DTCA) reveals that 2,018 buses are violating route permits while 1,646 are operating without route permits. Besides, 992 other vehicles lack fitness certificates. Dhrubo Alam, Project Director of DTCA, disclosed that only 128 out of 388 authorised bus companies are operating their buses in the city. Despite having route permits, 260 companies have kept their buses off roads.
DTCA sources said that these vehicles, lacking both route permits and fitness certificates, are allowed to operate illegally, resulting in widespread disorder on roads.
The survey report has showed that most of complaints have been brought against several transport companies, including Bashumoti, Moumita, Bikalpa, Thikana, Bikash, Poristhan and Victor. Other transport companies have also been found involved in various irregularities such as violation of routes and operation of buses without valid permits.
For instance, Bikash Paribahan is operating 128 vehicles, with permits issued for 103 of them. But only 72 have valid route permits. Additionally, 40 buses from other routes operate illegally under Bikash Paribahan, 26 buses operate without any route permits, and 38 are running with expired fitness certificates.
When asked about such irregularities, Harun-Ur-Rashid, chairman of Bikash Paribahan, acknowledged the issues, saying, “You are correct. Although 150 buses were running earlier, only half of them are now operational.”
“Half of our buses have route permits. Some vehicles from other companies without permits are running under our transport company. Due to ongoing instability and a downturn in business, many of us are unable to renew our fitness certificates,” he added.
Thikana Express Limited, another bus company, operates buses on only one route, getting permission for three routes. Buses with other route permits are plying the same route. Although 109 buses were approved for A-384 route, permits were issued for only 97 buses. Of these, 86 operate regularly, but 33 buses run with permits from other routes, without route permits, and with expired fitness certificates.
Delwar Hossain, director of Thikana Express Limited, explained, “We cannot obtain route permits because the Road Transport Committee (RTC) meetings are not held regularly. If other routes are closed, we cannot let those buses sit idle, so we have to operate them.”
Other bus operators, such as Labbaik Paribahan and Lovely Paribahan, have been blamed for bypassing their approved routes. They are supposed to follow a specific route via Khilgaon Flyover, Shahjahanpur, Rajarbagh, and Malibagh Crossing to Banglamotor. However, they have been operating buses illegally through a different route, causing significant inconvenience to the residents of Shahjahanpur, Sabujbagh, Shantibagh, and Malibagh areas, who are deprived of proper passenger services.
Md Kamal, chairman of Lovely Paribahan Limited, justified the deviation stating, “Since we don’t have enough passengers on the approved route, we are operating slightly differently.”
MA Hasan, managing director of Labbaik Paribahan, said, “We adhere to the route.”
Rajanigandha Paribahan, which used to operate from Ghatarchar to Signboard, was halted when Dhaka Nagar Paribahan was introduced. However, the company later resumed operations in the names of T-Three and Shomoy Paribahan. When the number of Dhaka Nagar Paribahan buses decreased, Rajanigandha Paribahan’s buses started operating again without route permits.
Similarly, Doel Paribahan, which operates from Meghna Ghat to Sayedabad Bus Stand, has been violating its route permit by extending its operations to Gulistan intersection.
Project Director Dhrubo Alam said, “Buses are operating outside their designated routes, with some using temporary route permits obtained illegally from Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA), and others even using fake permits. Transport companies are unwilling to comply with any rules.”
Gautam Kumar Das, Chairman of BRTA, mentioned that drives are conducted regularly against route violations and operating buses without permits.
In reply to a query about why the situation has not improved despite these efforts, he declined to comment further.
