Editorial
Transport anarchy
Put a stop to it
Anarchy now rules the city's passenger service, especially of buses and minibuses in the capital. Operators of the public transports are still found to be charging fares in excess of those fixed by the authorities. Small wonder sporadic quarrels and scuffles between ticket collectors and commuters, drivers fleeing buses when challenged by mobile courts, stranded transports on the streets and so on have become a day-to-day scene on the city roads. All this is happening in spite of HC directives to the communications secretary and the Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA) and others concerned to prevent collection of additional fares by bus operators. Five more mobile courts have joined the drive in addition to two others to discipline the recalcitrant bus operators, but with little result.
The bus operators seem to be indifferent to public protests, media coverage on instances of their being caught in the act, government's directive to follow the prescribed fare chart, let alone HC directives. The mobile courts in operation are undoubtedly facing a huge challenge to tame bus operators.
But what is most baffling is where are those unruly bus operators deriving their arrogance from?
The authorities should also give a deeper look at this aspect of the issue and try to delve deeper into the problem. The bus owners, who are the real bosses of the bus drivers and conductors, need also to be brought under the fold of the law.
In its six-point directives, the HC has asked the communications and home secretaries to constitute a seven-member committee to monitor how far its orders are being implemented on the ground. Similarly, it also directed the police authorities concerned to form vigilance teams to enforce government orders.
We think whatever measures the government takes, those should not be one-shot ones. The drives launched by mobile courts and other actions taken should be sustained to produce result. The government may also think of forming a high-powered task force entrusted with the job of looking into all aspects of the fare issue and suggest ways and means to ensure civic order and security.
For all latest news, follow The Daily Star's Google News channel.
Comments