Price gauging by Dhaka bus operators pinches commuters

Be it government employees or those working in the private sector, the recent bus fare hike is hurting commuters already burdened by inflation.

Jannatul Ferdous, a government officer, for instance, is now forced to shell out Tk 100 for a ‘Green Dhaka’ air-conditioned bus ride to Paltan from the Bashundhara Residential Area, instead of the earlier Tk 60.

The fare hike seems to be whimsical on Green Dhaka’s part, given the Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA) on August 6 allowing AC bus operators in the capital to increase the same by 35 paisa to Tk 2.50 per kilometre from the earlier Tk 2.15.

From the main gate of the Bashundhara Residential Area to Paltan, the distance is roughly 10 kilometres.

Had Green Dhaka followed the BRTA’s direction, Jannatul’s daily bus fare would have risen only by Tk 3.50 and not by Tk 40 -- which is almost tenfold more.

On August 5, the government hiked the prices of fuel in Bangladesh. Diesel prices were increased by Tk 34 to Tk 114 per litre, octane by Tk 46 to Tk 135 per litre and petrol by Tk 44 to Tk 130 per litre.

But many commuters UNB spoke with claimed that bus operators were charging more than the stipulated fare hike in view of the recent fuel price rise.

“For an 11km commute by ‘Bikalpa Paribahan’ bus from Mirpur-11-1/2 to Shahbagh, I am now paying a fare of Tk 55 instead of the earlier Tk 40,” said Munna, a private bank officer.

Another passenger, Faruq, echoed similar sentiments. “We are bearing the brunt of the fuel price hike,” he said.

The bus drivers and their assistants, however, said that they were only following the orders of their owners.

“Our owner has threatened to cut down the number of buses if we don’t charge as per his dictate. In such a scenario, we are helpless,” said Ruhul Amin, a driver of the ‘Raida’ bus service.

Authority turns a blind eye?

Despite BRTA warning of mobile court drives on different routes, bus operators continue to overcharge.

“It seems BRTA conducts drives only on one route. As a result, bus owners continue to indulge in fleecing commuters,” said Md Mozammel Haque Chowdhury, president of Bangladesh Jatri Kalyan Samity (JKS), a passenger welfare association.

When contacted, secretary-general of Bangladesh Road Transport Owners’ Association, Khandkar Enayet Ullah, told UNB, “We have given instructions to each and every bus owner to collect fares in line with BRTA’s direction only.”

Nur Mohammad Mazumder of BRTA warned: “If any public transport owner is caught overcharging commuters, they will be sued and fined.”

ABM Amin Ullah Nuri, secretary, Road Transport and Highways Division, said the bus owners have already been warned that they cannot charge more than the fare fixed by BRTA. “Otherwise, legal action will be taken against them,” he said. Though he defended the government’s decision to increase the bus fare in the wake of fuel price hike, the secretary warned bus operators not to overcharge commuters. “Violators will have to face the consequences,” he said.