The New Nation - Internet Edition

Staff Reporter

The Taxicab operators yesterday said that 8000 taxicabs out of total 11,000 are now off the road in the capital due to absence of appropriate policy of the government, highhandedness of cab drivers and opposition to increase cab fare.

Addressing a press conference at the National Press Club, the representatives of the Bangladesh Association of Tax Cab Operators (BATCO) said they are unable to repay the bank loan as nearly 70 percent of the taxicabs are now off the road.

It was addressed, among others, by Abdul Mannan Chowdhury Khasru,President, BATCO.

Khasru pointed out that as bulk of the tax cabs have gone off the road.

They are not in a position to clear bank loans, which are multiplying day by day. The companies are becoming loan defaulters after investing Tk 800 crore in cab operation, he noted.

He blamed a section of cab drivers for destroying the cab industry. Many of the drivers are involved in mugging passengers in collusion with criminals, realising excessive fare, damaging cabs through rash and careless driving and many other malpractices, he added.

He placed some proposals to the government to resolve the crisis facing the taxicab operators. The proposals include writing off the interests on bank loans, financial support to the companies to re-invest in this sector, formulation of an ordinance to punish the corrupt drivers and making this sector tax-free.

M Ezaz Mahamud, Secretary General of BATCO, Mostafizur Rahaman Dulal, Managing Director of Titas Cab Ltd, Mohammad Sharif Mia, Chairman of Badhan Cab Ltd and Mehadi Hasan, Manager of Jattri Cab Ltd also spoke at the press conference.