Baby-taxi
It is estimated that two million people in Metropolitan Dhaka belong to the so called middle-income group. They are facing trouble while commuting in the city. Private car is out of their reach. Taxi-cab service is inadequate and also too costly for them. When a family likes to join in a marriage ceremony, it needs a low cost vehicle to go to a community centre. When a patient is to be shifted to a hospital, an affordable baby taxi is needed. If a family wants to go to shopping to celebrate a festival, a baby-taxi is required. To appear in a public examination hall, a student needs transport service of a baby-taxi. It is the reality.
One cannot move to all desired places by available bus service in Dhaka. But it is unfortunate that the past governments ignored the needs of two million middle-income group city dwellers. Rickshaws are not allowed on all the roads. Then how will they move? The decision makers in the administration are ether availing personal cars or government vehicles. They do not feel the acute problem of the people. A lot of restrictions are imposed to stop import and registration of low cost CNG driven baby taxis. The Awami League has assumed power after a landslide victory in the last national election. It must take steps to remove the transport problem of the city dwellers. A baby taxi occupies less space in a road than a car or jeep but can carry the same number of passengers. That can contribute to reducing traffic congestion.
As a member of the middle-income group in Dhaka, I would urge the government to withdraw all sorts of financial and administrative restrictions on import and registration of baby taxi. Definitely, it would help people like us.
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