The government is putting pressure on private transport owners to ply their buses on city roads and highways, though the-state-owned organisation BRTC is yet to operate its buses in full swing.
Bangladesh Road Transport Authority usually operates around 1,400 buses on city streets and the highways, but now they have cut the number to half.
BRTC is not operating its expensive buses, fearing arson and vandalism, as some of its buses have already come under such attacks, said a source in the government-owned organisation.
It has completely stopped operating its 100 air-conditioned and over 100 articulated buses.
Fearing violence, private operators are also not operating their luxurious coaches on the long-distance routes.
As BRTC is also doing the same, passengers are facing difficulties, and have been bound to travel on low-rated buses.
AC buses of BRTC have gained popularity on some routes, like the Dhaka-Chittagong, Dhaka-Bandarbans and Dhaka-Rangamati routes.
These buses are now off the roads, fearing arson attacks, though the government top brass are repeatedly saying they have taken enough security measures on the highways.
BRTC operates around 300 buses on city roads, but now they only operate their run-down buses to avoid vandalism, resulting in immense problems for city dwellers.
BRTC Chairman Mizanur Rahman told the Dhaka Tribune: “So far four BRTC buses have been torched so badly they cannot be repaired.”
He said at least 12 buses were vandalised, causing a loss of around Tk6 crore.”
“Its not true that we have taken our buses off the highways but we are operating on a limited scale,” he added.