Jubo League rally: Commuters suffer for lack of transport
Commuters in the capital are facing trouble getting public transport ahead of the massive Jubo League rally scheduled for the afternoon in Suhrawardy Udyan.
There was a lack of sufficient public transport services in the city as ruling party men had already reserved many buses to go to their rally, according to local bus drivers.
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Prime Minister and Awami League President Sheikh Hasina is supposed to attend the rally of the AL's youth wing.
Around noon, residents of Mirpur trying to go to travel to several Dhaka areas including Gulistan, Motijheel, Saydabad, and Sadarhgat have been facing public transport crisis ahead of the rally.
Many commuters were seen waiting for hours at bus stands of Mirpur 10, Kazipara, Shewrapara, Agargaon, and adjacent areas in order, reports our staff correspondent. Many activists and supporters were also seen boarding pick-up vans at Mirpur 10, Kazipara, Shewrapara and other areas.
Female commuters and the elderly were the worst sufferers. Drivers of CNG-run auto-rickshaws and rickshaw-pullers were demanding excessive fares amid the crisis of buses.
Rahman Mia, 60, who was found waiting at Mirpur 10 bus stand, said he had been waiting for 45 minutes but could not find any bus. Usually, on the weekends buses are readily available, he said.
"When a bus arrives, it is already overcrowded. I can't get on", said Rahman Mia, who was trying to go to Dhaka Medical College Hospital in order to visit a relative admitted there.
On the other hand, many commuters complained that bus drivers are refusing to go all the way to their destinations.
Nurses Lovely Akhter and Lucky Akhter, who were going to work at Birdem General Hospital from Jurain, said they had to get down in Paltan as the bus refused to go further.
"Now we are having to walk as we cannot find any other means of transportation," Lovely said.
There was also crisis of public transport on the Mohakhali-Gulistan route, reports our correspondent from the spot.
Meanwhile, Khandaker Enayetullah, secretary general of Bangladesh Transport Owners Association, said the transport crisis was not due to Jubo League's rally.
"Although a few buses have been reserved to go to the rally, that is not the reason behind the lack of local buses on the roads. Bus crisis on a weekend is normal," Enayetullah told The Daily Star.
According to Jubo League sources, around 10 lakh supporters will attend the rally.
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