Minister ‘very pleased’ after Mohakhali visit, expects no Eid travel disruption

Road Transport, Railways and Shipping Minister Shaikh Rabiul Alam has said he found no evidence of overcharging, disorder, or fuel shortages for public transport during a visit to Dhaka’s Mohakhali Bus Terminal ahead of the Eid travel rush.

After inspecting the terminal on Monday, the minister said passengers were in some cases being charged less than the government-set fare, while buses were operating in an orderly manner despite the growing holiday pressure, reports bdnews24.com.

“I didn't find anyone charging more than the fixed fare anywhere,” he said.

“In some cases, operators are taking Tk 20, Tk 30, or even Tk 50 less than the approved fare.”

Responding to questions from reporters, the minister said transport operators had long been accustomed to charging below the official fare in an effort to attract passengers.

He said that in some cases passengers might be comparing current fares with earlier discounted rates, rather than with the government-approved fare itself.

“Suppose the fixed fare is Tk 700. At one point, when there were fewer passengers, some operators took Tk 500. If they are now charging Tk 600, some may feel the fare has gone up. But I am sure it is not above the approved fare,” he said.

He warned that there was no room to charge even one taka above the official rate, saying mobile courts and vigilance teams had been deployed at the terminal.

“If we receive any complaint, immediate action will be taken. We are active 24 hours a day,” he said.

Mohakhali has long struggled with buses being parked in multiple rows on surrounding roads, often disrupting traffic flow.

Asked about the issue, the minister acknowledged that the terminal was operating under space constraints, but said steps were being taken to keep traffic moving.

“The number of passengers leaving from here and the number of buses needed means it is not possible to park every vehicle inside the terminal,” he said.

“One bus leaves, another enters. If 10 buses leave, 10 buses enter. There is some inconvenience, but we are trying to ensure that the main road does not become blocked and that traffic movement remains normal.”

He said members of the police, BRTA, transport owners’ associations and workers’ groups were working together to manage the situation.

“I didn't see any dissatisfaction or lack of coordination here,” he said.

The minister also said there was no shortage of fuel for public transport, despite continued queues at filling stations.

“The international pressure that has emerged is being managed. But fuel for public transport has been ensured,” he said.

“Since last night, it has been ensured that public transport will receive adequate fuel supply.”

At one point during his remarks, transport workers and owners present at the terminal raised concerns over fuel access, prompting a brief commotion.

The minister asked them to report any specific filling station refusing to provide fuel, saying: “Ensuring fuel supply is my responsibility.”

Asked about unfit vehicles operating during the holiday exodus, he said authorities had banned such vehicles and were monitoring garages and highways to prevent unsafe buses from being sent onto the roads.

“If you see any unfit vehicle, give us the number and we will take action against the owner and the vehicle,” he said.

The minister said the authorities were preparing for the enormous seasonal pressure of people leaving the capital in a short period.

“That creates a major challenge for the roads and for transport capacity. There is no city in the world where 20 million people depart in two days.”

Even so, he said he was satisfied with the arrangements in place.

“There is passenger pressure, but passengers are still able to begin their journeys safely. The buses are in order and are leaving the station regularly after filling with passengers,” he said.

“The government holiday begins today. Pressure will rise from the evening. We have seen preparations have been taken to deal with that added pressure. I think people are set to enjoy a safe and comfortable Eid journey this time from bus stations, railway stations and launch terminals.”