Passengers at CNG drivers' mercy
Photo: STAR
One of the major transportation services of Dhaka city is in turmoil as the CNG drivers are still not obeying laws. They don't go by the meter. Although early in this year there had been strong movement against this misconduct of the drivers, the CNG auto rickshaw drivers are back to charging a lump sum from their passengers which is usually way too much than what the normal fare would be if they used the meter. Talking to students of North South University which is located at Baridhara, we found that one has to pay Tk 250-300 to come to Baridhara from Dhanmondi and Tk 300-350 when returning home. Talking to the CNG drivers we found out that the owners of the CNG auto rickshaws are forcing the drivers to pay Tk 800-1000 per day and most owners do not care how the CNG auto rickshaw drivers get that amount of money. The situation gets further frustrating as at peak hours like at 5pm. It is almost impossible to get a CNG auto rickshaw at that time. Even after half an hour's waiting at major points like Gulshan, Banani, Kakoli, Motijheel, Mogbazar, Karwan Bazar and Mohakhali there's no success. Worse still, most CNG drivers refuse to go to the destination a passenger may want to go. Law against such acts of misconduct by drivers is not being enforced. The question is: are the police providing enough support to the public when complaints of such misconducts are reported? Secondly, who to blame -- the CNG auto rickshaw owners or the drivers? Lastly, is the public to blame? (as they have been exploited by the CNG drivers for so many years but don't even bother to complain to the authorities)
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