The New Nation - Internet Edition

Tapan Chakraborty, Barisal

Different social, professional and cultural organisations of Barisal have demanded immediate introduction of city bus service in Barisal city. Area of Barisal city presently is about 33 square miles with a population of more than five lakh.

This figure of population however does not include thousands of floating people that come to the city every day and leave after dusk. In 1931, the area of Barisal town was six square miles with a population of about 25,000 only. About ten thosuand rickshaws are plying on streets of Barisal city but the fares are too high and such slow moving vehicles are not also good for long journey.

Patients and females are worst sufferers of the problem. Nasim Kanam, student of B.M. College and a resident of northern part of the city told that it takes at least fifty rupees to go to the college and come back by rickhaw which money her parents can hardly afford, but there is no alternative arrangement. Four hundred autorickshaws ply within and outside the city but they follow only a few routes and remain mostly on routes out of city.

Abdul Mamun Akond and Shahidul Islam, president and secretary of Barisal Bar Association, in a statement on behalf of the Bar Association demanded immediate introduction of the city bus service. All the development works of roads and communication will yield no result without city bus system, they further said, Nasimul Alam, President, Reporters Umty' also demonded immediate introduction of the bus service. Some roads are spacious enough for regular bus service while on other roads minibus can easily ply, he further said. Mintu Bose, Secretary Barisal Nagorik Samaj said that without city bus service, the middle class cannot live in the city.

Meanwhile, rickshaw fare has risen high and going even higher and people are really finding it difficult to arrange conveyance.