Nothing changes but fees rise
Communications Minister Obaidul Quader has been relentlessly active since assuming office. He made surprise visits, slapped and sacked officials, tried to understand the problems and finally came up with the decision that Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA) is incorrigible. Corruption is deeply rooted in BRTA and no human soul can do anything about it.
Earlier, as railways minister he gained knowledge through his visits that the services of the railways are not of international standard. He came up with the decision to hike up rail ticket price by fifty percent.
Now as communications minister, he has perceived that corruption in BRTA will continue despite his everyday visit. Now he has come up with the suggestion of increasing the registration fees of both public and private vehicles by 15 and 40 per cent respectively and also of increasing the test fees for all kinds of vehicles by 50 per cent.
For ministers, 3000 crore taka may be a small amount of money but for common people an increase in expense by 10 or 20 taka a day will make eating three meals a day a luxury, after paying the ever increasing electricity bill and meeting other expenses. In that case no popular stunt is going to save anyone on the election day.
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