BRTC to run more buses during hartal

The Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTC) is planning a range of preventive measures to ensure smooth plying of its buses across the capital during hartal times.

BRTC Chairman advocate Taimur Alam Khondaker revealed this yesterday at a motivation meeting held at the BRTC's Motijheel bus depot with the staff and lessees.

He said, during the hartal hours BRTC would add on 50 buses to the present number of 450 buses that run in and around the capital.

He said it will engage extra personnel to protect the buses from getting rampaged by the agitators and even to capture those responsible for doing a harm.

"If a staff gets injured while saving the bus,BRTC will bear his treatment cost," said the chairman at the meeting. BRTC plans to hold such motivation meets at other bus depots in the city as well.

BRTC will also introduce checking system for the passengers during those days as a safety precaution.

"A total of 11 BRTC buses including a Volvo double-decker were set on fire since the alliance government assumed power," Taimur mentioned.

Speakers from the BRTC staff and the lessees suggested the authority launch a media campaign and observe a BRTC week to urge people,especailly the political activists, not to vandalise the buses as this belong to the people.