Dhaka commuters made to suffer
For the second day in a row till April 17, thousands of commuters were left stranded as the BRTA kept the pressure on buses with reserved, seating services to withdraw the practice. These buses charged their customers extra for a seating service that allowed no extra passengers beyond seating capacity, which goes against the rules of business. In protest, these bus owners have kept their vehicles off the roads triggering this transport crisis. The brunt of this unofficial strike is being borne by the thousands of people who must use buses to travel on Dhaka roads daily as buses are the only form of mass transport in the capital city.
Residents are naturally angry and frustrated at this culture of impunity that the transport sector seems to enjoy. Back in February the transport unions enforced a nationwide strike protesting against a court verdict that was mired in violence and cost significant loss of property and untold suffering to people in general. The BRTA mobile courts are well within their rights to press charges and fines against errant bus owners who, it would appear, believe that it is their God-given right to fleece people as and when they please, ply on whatever route or charge "extra" for services that go beyond what is allowed by law.
The transport owners need to understand that they are not above the law. It is time for BRTA to start enforcing the law and we expect it to act on plans to cancel route permits for transport owners who have kept their vehicles off the roads. For too long, ordinary people have been made to suffer and it is time for the authorities to take firm action.
Comments