Govt busy pleasing transport owners instead of reducing passenger sufferings: Jatri Kalyan Samity

Every year, over 90% of passengers are compelled to pay two to three times the usual fare to travel home during Eid holidays, but instead of reducing passenger sufferings, the government is busy pleasing transport owners, said Mozammel Haque Chowdhury, secretary general of Jatri Kalyan Samity.

The secretary general made the comment while speaking at a meeting over the increase in fare anarchy and road accidents during Eid travels organised by Jatri Kalyan Samity at Dhaka Reporters Unity today.

"The government announces strict measures to stop extra fare collection every year during Eid holidays, but on the other hand, they also hold Eid preparation meetings with the same stakeholders who profit from the extra fares," he said.

"Regulatory agencies, transport owners, and labour unions are given the responsibility of stopping excessive fare collection but instead they collaborate to create fare anarchy," Mozammel added. 

He further said, "Even the Bangladesh Road Transport Authority [BRTA] does not stop the collection of extra fares, but rather asks passengers to pay the full fare to the last destination even if they travel short distances."

At the meeting, Professor Robaet Ferdous from Dhaka University's Department of Mass Communication and Journalism said, "The minister of communication does not want to listen to civil society. He will not listen to what organisations like Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD) and Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) have to say. 

"Without considering civil society's input, it's impossible to bring order." 

Robaet further said that many road accidents are preventable. "Accidents can be greatly reduced if vehicles are properly maintained. If precautions are taken and an incident still occurs, it's an accident. Otherwise, it's a planned murder," the DU professor added.

The meeting was also attended by journalist Abu Saeed Khan, Vice-President of Jatri Kalyan Samity Tawhidul Haque Liton, Joint Secretary General M Monirul Haque, Publicity Secretary Mahmudul Hasan Russell, and central committee member Md Mohsin, among others.