Overcharging buses slash fares after magistrate-led drive at Paturia

A mobile court fines three bus drivers Tk 10,000 in Paturia for overcharging passengers returning from Eid break

A mobile court has launched a drive at Paturia Bus Terminal in Manikganj after complaints of passengers being overcharged as they returned to work following the Eid holidays.

By Saturday noon, the presence of a magistrate prompted an immediate drop in fares, with tickets from Paturia to Gabtoli falling from Tk 300 to Tk 200.

Executive Magistrate Md Masud Ali Shahriar, from the deputy commissioner’s office, fined three bus drivers Tk 10,000 for collecting excessive fares.

Kamal Hossain from Kushtia, who works at a garment factory in Ashulia, boarded a local vehicle to Savar’s Nabinagar.

“At Paturia bus stand, they were asking Tk 300 to board, whereas I usually pay Tk 120. [On Saturday], they demanded more. But as soon as the magistrate arrived, they started taking Tk 200,” he said.

Several other passengers alleged similar overcharging. They named buses including Selfie, Nilachal, Shubhojatra, Seba Line, D-Link, Palash, and Welcome on the Savar-Chandra route.

They said fares from Paturia to Nabinagar, normally Tk 100–120, were raised to Tk 200, while Gabtoli fares jumped from Tk 160–180 to Tk 300.

“We are on the spot. We are speaking to passengers, and action will be taken against any overcharging,” the magistrate said.