Student Fare: A pre-independence demand yet to be met

Student half pass is a long-standing demand in the country. Despite several agitations, no government has met this demand in the 50 years since the country became independent. As a result, the pre-independence student movement is still going on. Protesters still voicing slogan for half fare.

In January 1969, the Sarbadaliya Chhatra Sangram Parishad pressed an 11-point demand including the half fare. But even after the independence, the demand is not met yet.

The 11-point demand includes half fare

In January 1969, the Sarbadaliya Chhatra Sangram Parishad came up with an 11-point demand. Students of Dhaka University, especially East Pakistan Students Union (Rashed Khan Menon), East Pakistan Students Union (Begum Matia Chowdhury), Dhaka University Central Students Union (DUCSU) eight student leaders jointly formed the body.

One of the 11-point demands of the students against the dictatorial rulers of West Pakistan was to keep half the fare for students. “Students shall be required to show their' Identity Cards' on trains, steamers and launches and arrange for fifty per cent "Concession" tickets. "Concession" will also have to be paid on the monthly ticket.”

Regarding the bus fare, the article says, “You have to make arrangements to travel anywhere in the city with a bus fare of 10 paisa like in West Pakistan. 50 percent "concession" will have to be given for bus travel in remote areas. Adequate buses should be provided for the students to travel to school-college. Students will have to give 50 percent "concession" in sports and cultural programs organized by government and semi-government initiatives.”

The safe road movement also demanded half fare

One of the biggest movements of recent times was launched by student pressing home the demand for safe road movement of 2018.

The protesters pressed 9-point demands including half fare at public transports.

Following the movement the Road Transport Act was formulated in the same year but the demand of half fare was ignored.

Owners of buses, trucks and other freight vehicles went on an indefinite strike abruptly in early November demanding fare hike as the fuel price was raised.

The Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA), which is in charge of fixing bus fares, held a meeting with the transport owners on November 7. New incremental fares are also fixed. BRTA sources said that there was no discussion about half fare of students.

Military ruler President Hussein Mohammad Ershad first gave the verbal directives to charge half fare for students. However no government yet took steps to make the law black and white.

Road Transport Minister Obaidul Quader has repeatedly directed transport workers to charge half fare to students.

“I am, from now on, giving directives to all busses including those of the BRTC to take half fare from students in the capital. If not, legal actions will be taken” the Awami League general secretary said, in a recent meeting with the bus depot managers at the BRTC office in October 2015.

Asked whether the transport owners had any discussion with Obaidul Quader about the half fare of the students after the instruction, President of Bangladesh Road Transport Owners Association Mashiur Rahman Ranga vsaid, "After Obaidul Quader's statement, he did not have any discussion with us. BRTC can introduce half fare.”

Asked whether the transport owners would take any initiative, the president of Bangladesh Road Transport Owners Association said, "It is a matter for the government. Not ours. If you don't tell us, I will not sit with the government. Let the government say. '

Elias Kanchan, who works for passenger rights, said that in many developed countries, students pay half through digital cards. But, conflict regarding the issue became a habit since independence. Half pass or not — it must be brought into a system.

The government could pay it (half the fare). Why would the owner pay? The school authorities can also pay. There is no reason to quarrel about it. They know who will subsidize, Elias Kanchan added.