The Road Safety Foundation (RSF) has urged the government to stop leasing Bangladesh Road Transport Corporation (BRTC) buses to institutions and organisations, saying the practice is reducing public access to affordable transport and worsening pressure on city commuters.
In a statement issued on Sunday, senior RSF officials said BRTC, a state-owned organisation funded by taxpayers, was created to provide reliable public transport services. They alleged that a significant number of its buses are being leased out to educational institutions and other public and private bodies instead of serving general passengers.
The foundation said these leased buses typically operate only twice a day—carrying students or staff in the morning and returning in the afternoon—while remaining idle for most of the day. At the same time, thousands of people in Dhaka continue to face overcrowded and inadequate bus services.
RSF also questioned the legality and policy basis of long-term bus leasing, calling on authorities to review whether such arrangements align with BRTC’s original mandate.
The organisation further alleged that some officials within BRTC have been involved in reducing passenger services, leasing out operational buses and prematurely sidelining vehicles before the end of their usable life. It claimed that such practices may benefit private transport operators.
Concerns were also raised over a number of Volvo articulated and air-conditioned buses purchased with public funds. RSF said many of these vehicles are no longer visible on city routes despite not reaching their expected service lifespan.
According to the foundation, stronger BRTC capacity could have helped regulate public transport fares and reduce disorder in the sector. Instead, it said weak oversight has allowed private operators to dominate the market.
The statement also noted that several BRTC passenger routes in Dhaka have remained suspended since the Eid holidays until recently, causing inconvenience and financial pressure on low- and middle-income commuters.
Calling for reform, RSF demanded cancellation of the current leasing system and proposed the formation of an independent investigation committee made up of judges, economists and transport experts.
The committee should review bus procurement, operational status, retired vehicles and financial losses of BRTC, the organisation said.
RSF also called for accountability measures against those responsible for irregularities and urged the government to ensure transparency and proper management of the state-run transport agency.
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