Result of Localization: Passenger Suffering Increases: Employers-Workers Benefit!

The Dhaka Times Desk All of a sudden the bus service of the entire capital has been made local by removing the seating service. Passengers thought that the fare would be reduced now. But it didn't happen, but the owners and workers and pickpockets have benefited!

What is the benefit of local? The rent increased. Because earlier the minimum fare was 5 taka, now it has been made 7 taka. In other words, passengers used to pay a fare of 5 taka for a short distance, from now they have to pay a fare of 7 taka. That is, 7 taka to get in the car!

Let's talk about one area, if you go to Shahbagh from Farmgate, you have to pay 5 taka for the local car fare. Now you have to pay 7 rupees. That is, rent has increased locally. Earlier, a passenger used to pay Tk 10 to get fan air from Farmgate to Motijheel seating service. Now he has to pay 9 rupees after pushing people. Since the circulation of one rupee has almost gone up, he has to pay that 10 rupees!

So now think about who has benefited and who has lost by doing it locally. In this way, almost every route has fares in advance, but people have to stand and travel through the violence of pickpockets!

Gains were made on only a few routes. For example, from across the Cantonment flyover, Shyora or Radisson used to charge Tk 25 even if they got on the seating service and got off at ECB Chatter (fare up to Mirpur-1 number). Now it will be enough to pay them 7 rupees. Moreover, the bus fare on every route has not decreased but the suffering of the people has increased.

That is why the owners are said to benefit. Earlier they used to take 40-45 passengers now they take more than double that number. That is, their income will double! Then the government did not think any thought, without observing the actual situation, especially by a popular minister like Mr. Obaidul Quader, no one ever thought about the condition of the people.

উল্লেখ্য, সড়ক পরিবহন মন্ত্রী জনাব ওবায়দুল কাদের হঠাৎ করেই গত সপ্তাহে ঘোষণা করেন রাজধানীতে কোনো সিটিং সার্ভিস থাকবে না। তাঁর ঘোষণার দু’দিন যেতে না যেতেই ১৬ এপ্রিল থেকে সব সার্ভিস লোকাল করা হয়। যা নিয়ে গত দু’দিন ধরে বাস কন্ট্রাক্টর ও যাত্রীদের মধ্যে ঝগড়া বিবাদ লেগেই আছে। কিছু কিছু স্থানে যাত্রীদের সঙ্গে হাতাহাতির মতো ঘটনাও নাকি ঘটেছে!