Dhaka, May 27 (V7N)- The Passenger Welfare Association has alleged that around Tk 5.62 crore (56.2 million) in extra fares has been collected from passengers on 26 bus routes during the Eid-ul-Azha homebound journey.
In a statement sent to the media on Wednesday (May 27), the organization said its brief survey on fare irregularities and travel conditions during the Eid rush revealed widespread overcharging and transport mismanagement.
According to the report, about 234,000 passengers were allegedly affected by excess fare collection across 26 routes.
The association claimed that the Bus Owners’ Association failed to uphold its earlier commitments, adding that fare irregularities continued on buses and minibuses of various categories. It also alleged similar issues on several water transport routes.
The organization further stated that while approximately 9.5 million passengers are traveling from Dhaka to different parts of the country during the Eid season, another estimated 30 million are undertaking inter-district journeys.
It noted that although the situation has been somewhat better compared to previous Eid-ul-Fitr travel periods—due to stricter monitoring and actions by authorities—passengers still faced significant suffering due to fare instability and transport pressure.
Transport operators and authorities, however, have denied the allegations, attributing disruptions mainly to weather conditions and high seasonal demand.
END/SMA/AJ
