Bus fare hikes exploiting train strike leave passengers outraged

Taking advantage of the railway workers' strike, transport workers have raised bus fares, sparking anger among passengers in Mymensingh over the increased costs of reaching their destinations.

Since Tuesday morning, passengers have been unable to find trains at Mymensingh Railway Station, and the city's bus stands have been crowded.

Seizing the opportunity, drivers have raised bus fares.

This was the scene at the Patgudam Bridge intersection, Maskanda bus stand and Bypass intersection in Mymensingh city.

Dhaka-bound passenger Sadek Hossain said, "The buses leaving from the Patgudam Bridge for Dhaka usually charge Tk 150-200. Today, they are demanding Tk 250-300.

“We are forced to go due to necessity."

The Bangladesh Railway Running Staff Oikya Parishad is striking indefinitely from Monday by stopping train service due to the non-reinstatement of mileage benefits.

This has caused extreme suffering to passengers in the Mymensingh region, along with the rest of the country.

A passenger named Shafiqul Islam, waiting for a bus at the Patgudam Bridge intersection, said: “The bus station is overcrowded with passengers, and many helpers are forcefully dragging passengers onto buses. We are suffering because of the train closures.”

Afsar Uddin, who was waiting for a Dhaka-bound bus at the city’s Bypass intersection, said: "I couldn’t travel to Dhaka despite having a train ticket. After waiting at the station for three hours, I refunded my ticket and came here to travel to Dhaka.

“Extreme anarchy is prevailing here. This is happening right in front of the administration.

“We want the suffering of the common people to be alleviated. Stopping train service in the name of a movement cannot happen in a healthy society.”

Abul Kalam, assistant to the driver of Dhaka-bound Imam Paribahan, said: “The claims of an increase in the fare are untrue. We are charging less fare than on normal days.”

Another bus driver named Humayun Kabir said, “People only board our buses when they're in trouble. We understand that and raise the fare slightly, which shouldn't be a problem for them.”

Mymensingh District Police Superintendent Kazi Akhtar Ul Alam said, “We are not aware of any increase in bus fares due to the train shutdown. Necessary measures will be taken after investigation.”