Commuters had to pay more for going places in the city as the operators of buses and CNG-run auto-rickshaws continued to charge in excess of the rates fixed by the government ignoring the drive against the unacceptable practice on the second day, Thursday
The drive of Bangladesh Road Transport Authority against the erring auto-rickshaw and bus operators remained equally ineffective for the second day in spite of support from Dhaka Metropolitan Police.
And to worsen the situation there was none to take action against erring rickshaw pullers charging at sweet will.
On Wednesday, the first day of the drive, BRTA had to do it alone with no trace of the police anywhere.
Meanwhile, BRTC also increased commuting fare on Thursday.
The police support on the second day made no difference to the drive with the bus and auto-rickshaw operators continuing to charge excess fare citing the government decision to raise the price of compressed natural gas since May 5.
Executive magistrate Mohammad Tofael Islam, who led the BRTA drive at Topkhana Road, in front of the National Press Club on Thursday with support from Shahbag police station, said the bus ticket sellers fled abandoning their counters as soon as his squad reached the spot at 12.30 PM.
He, however, said that the BRTA team confiscated two buses belonging to Belal Enterprise and My Line and fined Tk 1,500 from each, for charging excessive fare and not having proper documents.
He said that the squad also confiscated the route permit of one of the buses.
He said that the drive would continue as long it takes the authorities to ensure full compliance with the new fare structure, announced by the government.
Islam said that the authorities would, if needed, engage more magistrates and police with the drive.
The additional deputy commissioner of DMP Mohammad Zaidul Alam said the drive was carried out at different city points against charging of excess fare by the operators of CNG run buses and three wheelers.
On Monday the government raised bus fare by 35 paisa a kilometre in the cities of Dhaka and Chittagong and fixed the minimum fare at Tk 7, following its decision to increase the fuel price.
On long routes, it raised bus fare to Tk 1.15 a kilometre from 94-96 paisa.
The government raised CNG-run auto-rickshaws fare to Tk 7.50 a kilometre from Tk 7, and fixed minimum fare unchanged at Tk 25.
It increased the waiting charge for the auto-rickshaws to Tk 1.30 a minute from Tk 1.25.
Source: New Age
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