Public transport crisis grips Dhaka as political rallies cause chaos, fare hikes

There has been a severe public transport crisis in the capital as Bangladesh's two biggest political parties went face-to-face by holding rallies just a few kilometers apart ahead of the national polls. 

Rickshaw and CNG autorickshaw drivers were charging three to four times more to take advantage of the situation. 

This was a common scenario across the capital on Wednesday.

At various important intersections of the capital, hundreds of people were seen standing for hours for public transport. Whenever a bus arrived, everyone rushed to get on the public transport. Buses were also carrying three-fold people than usual.

Bangla Tribune

Many people opted to walk while many others had to suffer standing on the road as they waited for a transport.

A commuter named Jasmin Akhter said: "I am going to see a doctor at Shantinagar Popular Diagnostics with my daughter. I have been standing for almost three hours. I can't get any bus. Every now and then a bus or two comes, again they are packed with passengers. Autorickshaw drivers are asking for Tk500 to go from Rayasaheb Bazar intersection to Shantinagar. Even no rickshaw puller wants to go." 

She expressed her frustration and said that the rickshaw and CNG autorickshaw drivers were charging fares several times more than usual. "If it rains a little, the fare increases, even if the sun is shining brighter than usual, they charge extra. This (two rallies in the capital) is just an excuse to raise the fare." 

Meanwhile, many people were forced to use trucks as an alternative to public transport. 

One such person is Sajjad Hossain. He said: "I got into the truck as there are no other options. Bus and rickshaw fares have increased. Bus fare from Sadarghat to Gulistan is Tk10. Today, Victor Classic is charging Tk20. Rickshaw fare is Tk150. That's why I have chosen the truck." 

Another commuter named Hasan Mahmud said that the CNG autorickshaw drivers are stealing money from ordinary passengers without using the CNG meter. 

Bangla Tribune

When asked about the fare increase, a rickshaw puller named Anis defended his action by saying: "We don't always increase the rickshaw fare. Sometimes it increases when it rains or there are some other problems on the road. As we have to carry passengers amid these political rallies, we charge a little extra." 

Zafar, a CNG autorickshaw driver, said that there is a danger of vandalism in case of agitation. 

“We carry passengers in a risky situation. Also, because of the traffic jam due to the rallies, we have to use alternative roads. That is why we charge extra,” he added.