Jatiya Party Chairman GM Quader on Tuesday voiced concern over the transport workers’ rowdy attitude towards passengers and urged the government to take steps for stopping road anarchy over bus fares.
“It can’t be accepted the way the transport workers misbehave with passengers. Road anarchy must be stopped,” he said.
In a statement, the Jatiya Party chief said the transport workers are collecting much more money from passengers than the bus fares increased by the road transport authorities on the pretext of hike in diesel and kerosene prices.
As a result, GM Quader said, the ordinary passengers are being harassed while trying to reach their destinations by bus every day. “When they (passengers) protest, they’re subjected to indescribable torture.”
He also said full fares are being collected from students instead of half they deserve. “The transport workers are behaving harshly with female students and women.”
GM Quader said transport owners and workers had enforced a transport strike without any prior notice soon after the government increased the prices of diesel and kerosene by Tk 15 per liter on the night of November 3 last, harassing crores of commuters. “But no one has the right to call a strike without any prior notice.”
Later, he said, the government raised the transport fares through discussions with the transport owners and workers. “Many common people expressed their displeasure over the issue as they thought it’s a staged-managed drama. Even after that, the workers are collecting fares from passengers several times higher than the officially fixed ones.”
Though the oil prices have started falling on the international market, the Jatiya Party chief said the government does not seem to have any plan to lower the fuel prices.
He bemoaned that the prices of essential commodities are skyrocketing due to the rise in transportation costs. “That’s why ordinary people are struggling to make ends meet.”
GM Quader said the government has to take a quick decision to reduce the fuel prices as the oil prices have started falling in the world market.
He also urged the government to take steps for ensuring half fares for students.
