Govt promise remains unfulfilled as passengers face chaos over AC bus fares ahead of Eid

Highlights:

• Eid travellers alleged arbitrary AC bus fares and harassment
• Govt promises to regulate AC fares remain unfulfilled
• Sleeper buses are charging up to Tk3,000 on northern routes
• Experts termed modified sleeper buses unsafe and risky
• Passengers complained of "Eid bonus" and extra fares
• Passenger right groups accused transport owners of exploiting passengers

Despite repeated government assurances to regulate air-conditioned (AC) bus fares before Eid-ul-Adha, homebound people are now facing severe harassment, arbitrary pricing and safety concerns on the routes. 

As the Eid is set to be celebrated on 28 May, holidaymakers have already started leaving Dhaka, with many complaining they are being forced to pay extra fares for risky and substandard AC buses.

On 9 April, Transport Minister Shaikh Rabiul Alam told parliament that the government would soon fix fares for AC buses. Later, on 21 April, the prime minister's information and broadcasting adviser Zahed Ur Rahman also said AC bus fares would be determined before Eid.

However, weeks later, no visible progress has been made, leaving passengers vulnerable to what many describe as "transport anarchy," particularly in the case of so-called "sleeper" or "suite class" buses operating on northern routes.

During a visit to Gabtoli bus terminal yesterday, TBS found that transport operators were charging as much as Tk3,000 for a one-way "suite class" ticket from Dhaka to Rangpur on Patgram Express.

The neighbouring Burimari Express was charging similar fares for the same category of buses.

These sleeper buses are locally modified double-decker structures built on single-decker chassis imported from India. The lower level contains seats, while the upper level is fitted with sleeping berths.

Transport insiders often mockingly refer to them as "coffin class" or "chicken coop" buses due to their cramped and unsafe conditions.

Md Hadiuzzaman, a transport expert and former director of the Accident Research Institute, described such buses as a serious safety hazard.

Converting single-decker chassis into double-decker sleeper buses is "a direct criminal offence" because it disturbs the vehicle's centre of gravity, significantly increasing the risk of fatal highway accidents, he said.

"The chassis was never engineered for such modifications. Turning them into sleeper buses at local workshops goes against basic principles of science and engineering," he said.

He also questioned how these buses receive registration and route permits despite not matching models approved by the Bangladesh Road Transport Authority.

Aspia Smaroni, 30, who recently travelled from Dhaka to Lalmonirhat on a sleeper bus, said the journey was unbearable.

"Because of the constant shaking and terrible suspension system, I could not sleep for even a second throughout the trip," she told TBS.

Bangladesh Jatri Kalyan Samity Secretary General Mozammel Haque Chowdhury said sleeper buses currently have no legal recognition under the Road Transport Act, alleging that locally manufactured sleeper buses are operating in an unregulated manner.

Criticising the government for failure to implement its pledge before Eid, he said, "Passengers are being held hostage by transport owners and workers during Eid travel."

Passenger welfare organisations are excluded from key government transport policy forums, he alleged, saying that at the end of the day, policies are being influenced to protect the interests of transport owners, not passengers.

At Gabtoli terminal, some operators were charging passengers full-route fares even if they intended to travel shorter distances. Others were adding extra charges under the label of "Eid bonus."

Graduate student Himel, who came to the technical intersection to purchase tickets for Rangpur on Nabil Paribahan, said passengers had little bargaining power.

According to updated BRTA fare charts, the non-AC fare on the route is Tk997. But the counter manager demanded Tk2,450 for two tickets.

"Even though I will get off in Rangpur, they are charging me fares for Dinajpur or Thakurgaon. They are also demanding extra money in the name of Eid bonus," Himel said.

A similar situation was found at Anita Paribahan, where a supervisor demanded Tk1,600 for an advance non-AC ticket on the Dhaka-Jaldhaka route against the government-set price of Tk1,108.

Meanwhile, BRTA officials stationed at Gabtoli claimed they had not yet received significant complaints.

Mohammad Zakaria, assistant revenue officer of BRTA working at a temporary vigilance camp, said the Eid rush would intensify from 24 May onward.

"Our vigilance teams are working at all major terminals including Gabtoli and Mohakhali and it will continue until 6 June," he said.

However, a different picture emerged at Sayedabad and Arambagh terminals, where many operators claimed they were following government-approved fare structures.

Transport officials there said passenger pressure remained low so far, though demand was expected to rise closer to Eid.