Bus Overcharging: Joint drive in capital starts tomorrow
The government will conduct joint drives in Dhaka city from tomorrow onwards to stop bus operators from overcharging passengers.
Eleven executive magistrates of the Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA) and the Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP), police personnel, and representatives of the transport associations will take part in the drives.
"We have been getting some allegations of overcharging [by bus operators], especially in Dhaka city. We have taken the issue seriously and will conduct joint drives in Dhaka city from Thursday," BRTA Chairman Nur Mohammad Mazumder told The Daily Star yesterday.
The decision came following a meeting between the BRTA and transport leaders at BRTA headquarters yesterday evening.
Many bus operators in the capital and Chattogram city have been overcharging since the government increased bus and minibus fares up to 28 percent on Monday.
Nur Mohammad said they had called the meeting because they wanted to involve transport leaders in the actions regarding overcharging, adding that BRTA mobile courts have been conducting drives from Monday, which continued till yesterday, to stop the malpractice.
Around 10 mobile courts yesterday conducted drives against 257 buses in Dhaka and Chattogram and realised Tk 2.83 lakh from them, BRTA sources said.
Of the 257, fines were imposed on 73 buses -- 12 CNG-run and 61-diesel-run buses -- for overcharging, they said.
From Thursday, nine executive magistrates of the BRTA and two of the DMP will operate mobile courts in different parts of the capital, while police personnel and representatives of transport associations will accompany them, BRTA chairman said.
Besides, the BRTA has sent a letter to all divisional commissioners and deputy commissioners to conduct mobile courts in their areas. A letter was also sent to the inspector general of police and all metropolitan commissioners to take necessary legal actions to stop overcharging.
BRTA chairman also said that they asked owners of CNG-run buses to use sticker on buses so that passengers can understand easily.
Meanwhile, the Bangladesh Road Transport Owners' Association yesterday directed their members to stop charging more than the government-set rate.
In a letter, Khandaker Enayet Ullah, secretary general of the association, said they have been receiving complaints from different districts that "extra fares" are being taken from passengers.
"This is against the law and is a punishable offence," he said.
He asked transport leaders to be present on the roads to monitor the situation. He also warned of legal action against those overcharging passengers.The letter also stated that CNG-run buses have to stick to the previous rate.
The Dhaka Road Transport Owners' Association also sent a similar letter to its members. Transport leaders have called for a press conference over the issue today.
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