Seven companies to operate buses in Dhaka, says North Mayor Annisul

In an effort to revamp the lackadaisical transport services in Dhaka, the government is considering to form seven companies for operating the 4,000 buses which will be bought soon, says Dhaka North Mayor Annisul Huq.

Staff Correspondentbdnews24.com
Published : 20 April 2017, 09:14 AM
Updated : 20 April 2017, 09:14 AM

Speaking to the media on Thursday while driving out encroachers from footpaths in the diplomatic zone of Gulshan, he said, "The prime minister has tasked me to do the job. The city corporation will not be in charge of these (buses), once it’s finished.

"Seven separate holding companies will be formed to operate the buses. We hope to introduce some of them within this year." 

After operators pulled out buses from streets following a crackdown against those only carrying seated passengers, Road Transport Minister Obaidul Quader on Wednesday revealed the plans to procure the buses.

"The mayor of North Dhaka and transport industry representatives will discuss this with us in May. Mayor Annisul has a plan to buy 4,000 foreign buses, so we will discuss it with bus owners," he said.

The mayor told reporters on Thursday that the process was in its final stages and that he had 26 meeting with owners.

"It was a tough job to convince all the stakeholders as billions of black money is involved (in the transport sector).

"Those who are doing it say that a lot of (influential) people's interest is involved in it, which is the usual case in Bangladesh. We told them to put the public's interest before those to work out a solution," said Annisul.