As Eid approaches, passengers in Dhaka’s public transport system have been facing unexpected financial strain due to the collection of extra fares, with an alarming total of 832.30 crore Taka reported to have been taken in excess during the Eid travels.
This information was revealed by Mohammad Mojammel Hossain Chowdhury, the Secretary-General of the Bangladesh Passenger Welfare Association, during a press briefing held at the Dhaka Reporters` Unity on Wednesday morning.
The association’s report states that between March 20 and March 31, around 22 crore 74 lakh 90 thousand trips are expected to be made across various modes of transport including buses, trains, ferries, and flights.
These trips are primarily driven by Eid shopping and other travel-related needs.
However, an extra 832.30 crore Taka is being collected in the name of Eid bonuses and additional fares from passengers, which is causing major concern.
One of the key points highlighted in the report is that approximately 1.5 crore people from Dhaka are expected to travel back to their village homes for the Eid holidays.
Additionally, increased trips are being made due to Eid shopping and other purposes, which means an increase in public transport activity.
The total extra fare collection is especially concentrated on trips leaving Dhaka.
The findings were presented by the Monitoring Sub-Committee on Extra Fare Collection, which has been observing the situation since March 20.
They have been monitoring the overall state of road, rail, water, and air travel in Dhaka to evaluate fare hikes and the quality of service during the Eid period.
A concerning revelation in the report points out that although the government is responsible for setting the fares for various modes of transport, including buses and launches, as well as establishing pay rates and bonuses for drivers and assistants, these regulations are not being enforced properly.
As a result, transport officials have been collecting extra fares from passengers under the guise of Eid bonuses.
In addition, the situation has worsened with CNG-powered auto-rickshaws in Dhaka, which have been charging excessive fares during the Eid period.
Passengers using these autos for their daily activities, such as shopping or traveling to terminals, have reported paying an extra 200 Taka per trip.
The report estimates that, with around 30 lakh trips being made in Dhaka`s CNG autos, the total extra fare collection could reach more than 60 crore Taka during Eid.
The extra fare collection is causing a ripple effect across the transportation sector, with rising prices, extortion, social unrest, and increasing irregularities.
The lower-income population is bearing the brunt of this situation, finding themselves caught in a cycle of unfair charges.
On the air travel front, both government and private airlines have also been criticized for charging additional fees well before Eid.
In some cases, fares have been raised two or three times higher than the normal price on domestic routes.
It is expected that at least 1 lakh passengers using internal flights will each pay an additional 3500 Taka, which could add up to a staggering 35 crore Taka in extra fares.
The Bangladesh Passenger Welfare Association has called for immediate solutions to address this issue, including the introduction of digital fare collection systems, the elimination of cash transactions, the installation of CCTV cameras on highways, and ensuring stronger enforcement of regulations.
These steps, they argue, are essential for creating a fairer and more organized public transport system, especially during peak periods like Eid.
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