Bus owners still refusing student fare discount

The second meeting between the Bangladesh Road Transport Authorities and Bangladesh Transport Owners Association ended without any fruitful decision on Saturday, as city bus owners yet again refused to accept half fares from students without government subsidy.

Facing protests from students in Dhaka city demanding a 50 per cent discount on bus fares, the BRTA had organised the two-hour meeting with the representatives of transport owners,

workers and police to reach a logical solution for the ongoing issue.

After the meeting, BRTA Chairman Nur Mohammad Mazumder told the media, “Although the meeting ended without any fruitful decision, more meetings will be held if necessary so that the students can pay half fares in buses.

“We have found some positive aspects from a proposal that came from a task force, which is comprised of officials from education and home ministries, the BRTA and transport stakeholders.”

He continued, “Stakeholders have sought details about the number of educational institutions and students’ separate identity cards, and the BRTA agrees with this proposal.”

On the issue, Dhaka Road Transport Owners Association General Secretary Khandaker Enayet Ullah said, “Eighty per cent of bus owners are poor in Dhaka. They depend on one or two buses for their income. They also have children and go to schools and colleges.

“For this reason, the transport owners and workers have proposed a subsidy before deciding on the issue of discounted fares.”

Students on Saturday continued their protests in Dhaka demanding half fare in buses and safety on roads following the death of Notre Dame College student Nayeem Hasan.

Hasan was killed at the capital’s Gulistan area on Wednesday after being struck by a garbage truck of Dhaka South City Corporation.

Protesters from several colleges blocked the capital’s Asad Gate and Dhanmondi 27 areas around 12pm. Another group of students protested at the Uttara House Building area around 11am. Students later dispersed from the streets when police calmed them down.