BRTA launches drive against excessive fares ahead of Eid

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Dhaka, Mar 26 -- Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA) on Wednesday conducted a drive at various locations across Dhaka to alleviate passenger suffering during the Eid journey.

Dring the drive, several transport companies were fined for charging excessive fares, confirmed Nobel Dey, Information and Public Relations Officer of the Ministry of Road Transport and Bridges.

Labiba Paribahan, Sonartari Paribahan, and Seba Green Line Paribahan were each fined Tk 10,000, with a total of Tk 30,000 imposed for fare violations at Rainkhola in Mirpur during the mobile court operation.

Meanwhile, a powerful transport syndicate has started extorting Tk 832.30 crore from over 1.5 crore Eid travellers as "tips," forcing them to pay exorbitant extra fares, according to a report by the Bangladesh Jatri Kalyan Samity.

The report, presented by the organisation’s Secretary-General, Md Mozammel Haque Chowdhury, at a press conference at the Dhaka Reporters’ Unity on Wednesday, highlighted widespread fare irregularities across road, rail, water and air transport. - UNB