Dhaka's public transport crisis: Commuters endure endless suffering

A severe public transport crisis has gripped various parts of the capital in recent days, causing significant hardship to commuters.

In areas such as Abdullahpur, Kuril, Bashundhara, Badda, Rampura, Malibagh, Kakrail and Paltan, hundreds of passengers have been left stranded on the streets with no buses in sight.

The few buses that are operational have their gates closed, packed with passengers, leaving no room for new passengers to board.

On Monday, it was observed that while no buses were running on the roads, rows of buses were stationed at the ends of the Merul Badda and Rampura Bridges.

When asked why they were not operating, Sumon, a helper from 'Victor Bus', explained that due to new regulations, many buses had not taken to the streets as they were required to paint their vehicles pink.

With the implementation of e-ticketing, drivers and helpers feared financial losses, which discouraged many buses from running.

Last week, the Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) decided to introduce pink-painted buses and implement e-ticketing on the Abdullahpur-Gazipur route.

Initially, 2,610 buses from 21 companies were brought under this system, and DMP Commissioner Sheikh Md. Sajjat Ali mentioned that the number of buses and routes would increase in the future.

However, this transition has led to a serious shortage of buses in the Abdullahpur area for the past two days.

Besides, the strict enforcement of traffic regulations has led to a fear of legal action, deterring many drivers from taking their buses out. Many drivers and helpers have expressed concerns about potential losses due to the e-ticketing system.

Alamgir, a driver of 'Anabil Bus', shared his frustration: "There are checkpoints and traffic officers at every corner. If we take the bus out, we are sure to be fined. We will only operate when the situation normalises."

With fewer buses on the road, the number of rickshaws and motorcycles has increased, contributing to severe traffic jams.

On the one hand, auto-rickshaws have become a nuisance, and on the other, reckless motorcycles are adding to the chaos, creating frequent congestion on the routes.

Anwar Hossain, who was travelling with his daughter to school, shared his experience of waiting for over half an hour without finding a bus. "Rickshaw fares have skyrocketed, and the situation on the road has become chaotic all of a sudden," he said.

Shafiqul Rahman, a businessman from Bashundhara, was travelling to Old Paltan. After walking to Rampura Bridge and managing to board a bus, he was stuck in heavy traffic.

He recounted: "I found out that several buses, including Victor Transport, were not operating, which left passengers stranded for hours. People are either walking or struggling to board the buses, but the buses themselves are barely moving, putting everyone in a difficult situation."

Meanwhile, a group of expatriates returned from Dubai have staged a sit-in in front of the Intercontinental Hotel in Shahbagh, demanding rehabilitation and financial assistance.

This protest has led to severe traffic congestion in the Shahbagh, Matsya Bhavan, Banglamotor, Kakrail and Kawranbazar areas.

The DMP's traffic department has not provided a satisfactory explanation for the reduction in the number of buses.

Assistant Deputy Commissioner (ADC) Fazlul Karim of the Uttara Zone traffic department stated, "We also observed fewer buses on the road, but we are not yet clear on the exact reason. It is believed that many buses are staying off the roads due to the pink paint and e-ticketing system."

Sharmin Akter, Assistant Commissioner of Badda Traffic Zone, mentioned that, in addition to the pink paint requirement, there were reports of some bus drivers and helpers going on strike, contributing to the ongoing public transport crisis.

In response, Saiful Alam, General Secretary of the Dhaka Road Transport Owners Association, stated, "We have clearly communicated that only roadworthy vehicles will be allowed to operate in the capital. We are gradually bringing all vehicles under the e-ticketing system. Some workers from 'Turaq' and 'Balaka' buses had blocked roads in protest, but we were able to resolve the issue peacefully."

The e-ticketing system has caused many buses to stay off the roads due to technical reasons, while some drivers and helpers are actively opposing it. Saiful further claimed that those blocking the roads may have been instigated by individuals with ulterior motives.

Mojammel Hossain Chowdhury, Secretary-General of the Passenger Welfare Association, expressed his frustration, saying, "This is not a new problem. Whenever bus owners disagree with a policy, they use commuters as pawns. The government imposes decisions but fails to properly monitor their implementation. As a result, ordinary people are left to suffer. The government needs to strengthen its monitoring system."