Students reject conditionalhalf  bus fare

Students have refused to accept 50 per cent discount on bus fares in only Dhaka metropolitan areas and demanded half fare across the country.

The protesters announced to continue their movement until the government will issue a gazette notification in this regard, students’ representatives told reporters at Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA) chairman’s room at Banani on Tuesday afternoon.

‘’We want half fare on public transports across the country. Our peaceful protest will continue as no conclusive discussion was held over the students’ demands today.’’ said State University student Inzamul Haque.

Before that, a three-member team of students headed by Inzamul Haque met BRTA chairman Nur Mohammad Mazumder. Dhaka Road Transport Owners Association accepted half bus fare from students on three conditions. 

The conditions were- half fare will be applicable from 7am to 8pm daily except government holidays, weekends, and others holidays of educational institutes. Besides, students will have to exhibit their identity cards to get the benefit from bus conductors.   

Khandaker Enayet Ullah, Secretary-General of Dhaka Road Transport Owners Association declared half fare for students on private transports from December 1.

‘’We have met with 120 transport managing directors and five transport labor federation leaders in the last few days. They all have agreed on the issue”, Khandaker Enayet Ullah said.

Meanwhile, students of different educational institutions blocked capital’s Rampura bridge area protesting the death of SSC examinee Mainuddin Islam Durjoy in a road accident.

Students from Imperial College, National Ideal School and College, Ekramunnesa High School, Ideal School and College and South Point School participated in the protest starting from 10:30am.

The blockade halted traffic causing immense sufferings to the commuters’ while many were forced to walk to their destinations.

Arman Hasan, a student of National Ideal School and College said, “Although a student has been killed in road accident but we are yet to witness any initiative by the government to ensure road safety.”

Earlier, Mainuddin Islam Durjoy, an SSC examinee of Rampura Ekramunnessa High School, was killed after being hit by a bus at Rampura Bazar on Monday night. He was crossing the road when a bus of Anabil Paribahan ran over him. After the accident, seven buses were torched by a mob at Rampura area.

Durjoy’s body was handed over to his family on Tuesday after an autopsy and he will be buried in his village Haluapara at Sarail Upazila of Brahmanbaria district.

Besides, two separate cases were filed with Rampura Police Station in this regard.

Rashida Begum, victim’s mother filed one case accusing the bus driver and his assistant while police filed another case accusing five hundred unnamed people over arson attack on seven buses.

Officer In-Charge (OC) of Rampura Police Station Rafiqul Islam said they have seized the bus of Anabil Paribahan and detained its driver Md Sohel and his assistant Chan Mia.