Even after four years into inauguration, the new and modern bus terminal of the Moulvibazar district is yet to be properly utilised as the transport owners and workers continue to avoid it. Because of no use and lack of maintenance, the terminal building is falling apart.
The new bus terminal, on the west side of the Moulvibazar town, was built to ease the traffic congestion and remove the illegal bus stand. Though it was inaugurated in 2010, it could not be operational due to lack of interest of the bus owners and drivers to use it.
A recent visit to the terminal at the Jugidohor area of the town found it in dilapidated condition. The terminal building was left unattended with dirt all over the floor. The tiles, doors and windows were also broken. The bus counters allotted to various companies were closed with no sign of life.
A business man from the terminal area said no vehicle was ever seen to pick up or drop passengers at the terminal. Only a few empty buses take refuge here during the night and leave early morning. Though there is a night guard for the terminal, his duty is only to switch on and off the lights.
The terminal was built on a three acre area by the local government spending more than Tk3 crore.
After the inauguration, the district administration held several meetings with the district transport owners and workers to encourage them to start using the new terminal. Though some inter-district companies started operating from the terminal, the local bus companies did not do so. This discouraged the inter-district companies to avoid the terminal and move their buses to the Kodalipul area.
General Secretary of Moulvibazar District Road Transportation Owners’ Association Md Abdur Rashid said: “The new terminal is not conveniently located for us and for the passengers. We have had many discussions with the transport owners and workers, but they do not want to use the new terminal. And for passengers, they have to count extra rickshaw or auto-rickshaw fare to go the terminal.”
President of Moulvibazar Bus-Minibus, Coach and Microbus Road Transportation Workers’ Union Sanjit Kumar Deb told the Dhaka Tribune that long time ago he proposed the then MP and former Finance Minister Saifur Rahman to build the terminal at the south of the town. However, that proposal was not accepted.
Moulvibazar Municipality Mayor Faizul Karim said: “If the traffic police did not allow vehicles to park at the Kusumbag area, then there would be no congestion. The vehicles would then automatically opt for the new terminal.”