BANGLADESH

Nationwide public transport shortage grasps commuters

Most bus operators in the country, including inter-district bus services, have increased fares following the government’s move to hike fuel prices by over 50%.

To make matters worse, CNG-run auto-rickshaws, rickshaws (both paddle and battery run), and ride sharers were taking advantage of the untoward situation by overcharging passengers.

Fares have jumped drastically on some routes while bus owners and workers of several destinations have partially or completely suspended operations and are making arrangements to charge travellers extra.

In Dhaka, the number of intra-city buses decreased significantly since Saturday morning.

Commuters, mainly office goers, suffered as there was barely any public transport available on the city streets.

Hundreds were seen waiting at various intersections and bus stops in the vain hope of getting a ride. Demand for auto-rickshaws and rickshaws was high, and fares went up.

Operation of long-haul buses has almost come to a halt since today (6 August) morning adding to the woes of the passengers in Munshiganj.

CNG-run auto-rickshaws and human haulers operating via the Muktarpur bridge were seen charging Tk10 extra at least.

In Khulna, intercity bus fares have been hiked by almost 40-50%.

About 18 buses ply from Sonadanga bus terminal in Khulna to other cities. Among them, fare on Khulna-Paikgacha route has been increased by Tk35 taka to Tk150.

Meanwhile, bus fares in Lakshmipur, Rajshahi, Sylhet, Mymensingh, and Brahmanbaria are yet to see a surge. But the number of vehicles on the road has dropped significantly.

Related Articles

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Back to top button
Close