Sagar Biswas :
In the wake of huge criticism, the authorities have decided to shut down the seating service in the city routes from March 30 next for allegedly “cheating” commuters for a long time in the name of providing improved service.
The seating service was first introduced in the Dhaka Metropolitan City in a limited-scale around three decades ago to ensure hassle free journey to the dwellers. Later, different transport companies implemented the scheme in a large-scale but failed to give expected service to the people.
In the course of time, the seating service has become to known as “cheating service” in the transport sector. There is a widespread allegation that some dishonest owners getting cooperation from transport owners’ association leaders and police had misused the service with an ill intention to take extra money from the passengers’ pockets.
A source close to the transport sector told The New Nation on Thursday that the leaders of transport owners’ association and transport workers’ association have sat in meetings for several times over the issue after getting massive allegations about the service. It is learnt that, the associations have received numerous complaints about taking extra fare by the bus operators from the passengers along with taking additional passengers out of seat capacity. Not only that, most of the buses used to stop here and there on the middle of the road for taking passengers, which appears highly irritating to the seated passengers.
“There are huge irregularities in the seating service in the city routes. We’ve sat in meetings for several times to get a solution of the problem. We’ve got proof that, different transport companies charge extra fare from the commuters, though they are not capable to provide seating service at all,” Khandaker Enayetullah, General Secretary of Road Transport Owners’ Association, said.
“In this regard, we’re going to take the decision to shut down the seating service from March 30, which will be announced formally from the meeting of association. And from then, the city buses will be plied maintaining routes and stoppages,” he said.
Shipping Minister Shajahan Khan, also the executive president of apex union Bangladesh Transport Workers’ Federation has reportedly okayed the decision. When contacted, Shajahan Khan told The New Nation last night that the association could take such decision if there is any specific allegation about the service.
In fact, the sufferings of people have been increased during their every day travel, although the government has implemented a few mega projects, including construction of a number of flyovers across the city introducing some transport services. Particularly, the condition of city bus service is very troublesome where the authorities concerned have failed to bring any disciple till the date. A special air-conditioned bus service the “Dhaka Chaka” in the posh diplomatic zone Gulshan has earned huge discontent of the commuters due to excessive fare.
Sources said there is a “powerful syndicate” of operators which controls the city’s transport sector with the help of dishonest police officials and political ruffians. Besides, the state-run operator Bangladesh Road Transport Corporation has apparently failed to meet the public demand mainly due to corruption and administrative inability.
As per rules of Bangladesh Road Transport Authority, there is nothing like seating service in the city transport sector. Although the buses are marked with seating service, these take extra passengers almost often resulting harassment to the commuters.
Another big problem is that, most of the buses make additional seats in comparison to their spaces. So the passengers cannot sit on their seats comfortably. The 31-seated buses are changed in the workshops to 50-seated vehicles.
With a view to bringing discipline in the transport sector, the Dhaka South City Corportaion authorities have launched a joint drive against over 20-year-old buses, unfit vehicles, and illegal drivers in the capital from March 1. But it did not bring fruitful result due to dishonesty of some transport owners and lack of cooperation from police and transport associations.
At present, the old buses are taking facelift along with installing extra seats in different workshops in the city to ply again on the roads dodging the surveillance of authorities.
Meanwhile, some organizations on Thursday arranged rallies and demonstrations in different city areas, including in front of the Jatiya Press Club, to register their protest against the alleged “cheating” of the seating service.
