The New Nation - Internet Edition

THE law enforcing agencies including the Rapid Action Batalion the other day had a meeting with the owners of transport vehicles. Representatives of the bus owners association from different locations came to the Mohakhali Inter-District Bus Terminal in the city for the meeting. They mentioned about the presence of terrorists, who forced the owners as well as drivers and helpers of buses and motor launches to pay them extortion money. These elements in the past decade used to get the support of political elements in the respective areas

As reported in the press, from time to time, owners and operators of buses and motor launches at different terminals fail to ensure proper management of their transport vehicles and vessels. The agile elements around those terminals become active to collect money at the cost of passengers. The passengers of such buses and motor launches are forced to pay fare at higher rates. Movement of passengers from the capital city and the major industrial and commercial towns has thus turned costlier. They have to pay fare at enhanced rates for their visits to their village homes during festivals like the Eids.

The people paying higher rates of fare try to avoid remaining in the long queues to buy tickets and opt for taking tickets from middlemen. These middlemen are found buying dozens of tickets at fixed rates from the terminals and selling the same at higher prices. In the meeting held at the Mohakhali Bus Terminal, the owners of buses and launches were requested by the officials of the RAB to ensure availability of tickets for long distance bus and launch passengers. They were requested to maintain daily schedule of movement of vehicles and ensure safe trips of passengers. They were also requested to instruct their drivers to avoid stopping at different points on long-routes and not to take local passengers on board their transports.

As reported, the RAB has taken the responsibility of nabbing criminals and extortionists and checking the process of black marketing of tickets. Safe and comfortable movement of passengers ahead of the Eid festival has to be ensured with necessary actions taken by the owners of transport vehicles. The prevailing inadequacies of space at bus terminals for accommodating hundreds of vehicles may have to be removed with joint investment by owners of vehicles for expanding existing terminals and seting up new ones around the city.