As high as 98 percent passengers of public transport in Dhaka are charged extra fare while 28 percent passengers have to travel standing in ‘seating service’ buses, says a survey.
Bangladesh Passengers Welfare Association (BPWA), a passengers’ rights body, conducted the survey at different spots of Dhaka city from between May 19 and 24.
The survey was based on responses of 557 bus passengers, 184 auto-rickshaw passengers, and 56 taxi riders.
Of the respondents, 82 percent expressed deep dissatisfaction over the services of the public transport sector during the month of Ramadan, which started from May 18.
Ninety two percent passengers faced suffering every day while 62 percent said they were forced to board and get off from moving buses.
Ninety-three percent passengers said they do not know where to complain if harassed by bus operators while 88 percent says they believed filing complain will go in vain.
The survey shows 94 percent CNG-run auto-rickshaw in Dhaka charged fixed fares and 98 percent charge more than what the meter reads. Ninety percent of auto-rickshaws refuse to take passengers to their destinations.
Ride-sharing apps somewhat came as a relief for passengers as taxis are hardly available at the busy spots of the city.
BPWA Secretary General Mozammel Haque Chowdhury said, “Ninety six percent of mini buses are being operated in the name of ‘seating services’, who charge extra fares.”
Reaping the benefit of high demand, all bus operators in the capital have turned into ‘seating services’ overnight.”
“Neither the government nor the transport owners’ have stepped in despite the media’s attention on passengers’ suffering,” said Chowdhury.