Transport operators hit out at passenger welfare group's estimate on Eid bus fares

It faces a 48-hour ultimatum to provide evidence substantiating its statement

Transport owners and workers have called into question a claim by the Passengers' Welfare Association Bangladesh (PWAB) that passengers would be charged an extra Tk 1.48 billion in bus fares around Eid-ul-Fitr, giving the group 48 hours to provide evidence in support of the estimate.

At a press conference in Dhaka on Friday, leaders of the Bangladesh Road Transport Owners-Workers' Coordination Council said they would take legal action if the association failed to substantiate its statement.

Saiful Alam, secretary general of the Bangladesh Road Transport Owners Association, said: “Mozammel Haque Chowdhury, in the name of the Passengers’ Welfare Association, has made a false statement citing an additional bus fare of Tk 1.48 billion on Eid."

"We strongly condemn and protest this ill-intentioned, fictional and unrealistic statement, which is meant to mislead the public.”

The row comes as Road Transport and Bridges Minister Shaikh Rabiul Alam repeatedly rejected allegations that bus operators were overcharging passengers during the busy Eid travel period.

The PWAB on Wednesday said in a statement that fares had been raised on 87 percent of buses and minibuses, with intercity travellers alone paying an estimated Tk 1.28 billion in excess of the approved rates.

Mozammel said the estimate was based on field observations conducted between Mar 14-18.

He also alleged that government directives were being widely ignored, with “a state of chaos” prevailing in fare collection.

Saiful termed Mozammel’s observations “baseless” and called on him to substantiate his statement with proper evidence within 48 hours.

“Otherwise, we’ll take legal and organisational measures against him.”

At the same press conference, however, former Bangladesh Bus-Truck Owners’ Association president Humayun Kabir Khan acknowledged that some unscrupulous operators were taking advantage of passengers by collecting excess fares through unauthorised counters.

The association’s General Secretary Md Hanif said, "There are some so-called businessmen who change and copy the logos of renowned transport companies and engage in such illegal activities.”

He vowed action against them.