The Bangladesh Jatri Kalyan Samity (BJKS) on Sunday demanded an end to the anarchy of excessive fare collection and passenger harassment during Eid travel.
In a statement, the organization claimed that irregularities in fare collection on road, river, and air routes have already begun.
Although the government has pledged strict action against excessive fare collection, various categories of buses and launches continue to overcharge passengers through different means, the statement said.
The association’s Secretary General Mozammel Haque Chowdhury, criticized the formation of vigilance teams by the Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA) and the Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA), saying that these teams include only transport owners while excluding passenger representatives.
He further said that despite a reduction in extortion on roads, transport fares have not been lowered accordingly, depriving passengers of the expected benefits.
Passengers traveling on AC and non-AC buses from Dhaka to northern districts are being charged an additional Tk300 to Tk1,500.
Moreover, bus fares from Chittagong to the northern region have doubled, according to the statement.
Reports of excessive fare collection have emerged from passengers traveling to Comilla, Noakhali, Feni, Bogra, Naogaon, Panchagarh, and Thakurgaon.
Additionally, advance Eid tickets at Dhaka’s Sadarghat launch terminal for routes to the southern districts are being sold at inflated prices.
Domestic airfares on routes such as Dhaka-Syedpur, Dhaka-Cox’s Bazar, and Dhaka-Chittagong have also seen a sharp increase.
The association urged the authorities to take immediate action to curb fare irregularities and ensure a hassle-free journey for passengers during Eid.
