THE New Nation yesterday reported that the appalling condition of public and private buses in the city transport system is causing untold sufferings to the passengers. Unfit vehicles are not only fostering the poor state of the transport sector but are also potentially increasing the risks of road accidents. The government from time to time initiates drives to oust the unfit buses from the city streets, but organized pressure by transport owners and workers compel the government to retreat. In this messy condition, the commuters have no other option but to travel in these city buses, whereas the government seemingly has no concern about public sufferings. Not only that, dilapidated roads and ruthless driving cause tremendous pain to the commuters everyday.
If unfit vehicles can’t be taken off the roads, the next best alternative is to improve road safety. Many of these vehicles have fitness certificates even though they are unfit while some don’t have documents at all or have expired papers. In the city, most bus windows are broken or nonexistent, while others have broken glasses that result in passengers’ suffering particularly in the rainy seasons.
Bangladesh Jatri Kalyan Samity, a platform for the betterment of passengers, said 66 per cent of window glasses of the city buses are broken and 93 percent of the buses are without fans. Besides, seats are also damaged and broken and the body of the buses are partially broken down and deeply scratched. Passengers also claimed that seat covers are very dirty. Most buses have no headlights; some headlights are broken while a number of buses has no rear view mirror. In the summer, passengers suffer from hot weather but the fans in most public transports are found out of order. The Bangladesh Road Transport Authority issues fitness certificates just by visual inspection of vehicles, and allegedly in exchange of bribes. Sometimes, the old buses return to the street in new guises through cosmetic denting and painting though the engines and other parts remain unchanged.
We think, the authorities should ban unfit vehicles in the city to reduce the accidents and also ensure a comfortable travelling for the city dwellers. They should take the matter seriously and conduct drives against unfit vehicles from time to time.
