Gopal Chandra Karmakar is the owner of Supravat bus which killed Abrar Ahmed Chowdhury, a student of Bangladesh University of Professionals (BUP). Gopal also has gold trade in Shakharibazar of old Dhaka. He owns 70 buses of Supravat and though the company has 70 road permits, there are 450 buses operating under its name.

Reportedly, this has happened due to the influence of a transport leader, Asharful Islam, who is also the general secretary of Sadarghat-Gazipur minibus owners’ association.

BRTA sources say that Supravat had permission to run from Sadarghat till Raniganj in Uttara though the buses went beyond their route permit and operated in Gazipur.

Reportedly, no one could talk against the illegal operation of Supravat due to the influence of Ashraful Islam.

Supravat began journey in 2000 with more than one hundred new buses and for the last two years it has been using the word ‘Special’ making the service Supravat Special.

It’s believed that though it has 70 permits, around 400 vehicles ran on the roads, some using the same number plates.

General secretary of Dhaka road transport owners’ association, Khondokar Enayetullah said, “We have told Supravat owners that their cars will not be allowed on the roads.”

After the accident the owner of the bus, Gopal Chandra and company chairman, Ashraful Islam have become fugitives.

Deputy-director of BRTA’s engineering wing, Shafiquzzaman Bhuiyan, told Bangla Tribune, “Both Supravat and Jabale Nur companies have been ordered to submit papers at the BRTA where they will be inspected.”

On Mar 19, a Supravat bus ran over a student which triggered a movement by students from all over the city. Later, the permit of the bus company was suspended.