The requisition of long-distance buses nationwide by police and district administrations ahead of the national election could trigger a severe transport crisis for voters during the holidays, the Bangladesh Road Transport Owners’ Association (BRTOA) has warned.
Its General Secretary, Saiful Alam, said the authorities have yet to formally announce how many vehicles will be requisitioned. He issued the warning while speaking at a press conference at the association’s central office in Dhaka on Saturday.
He said that nearly 20,000 buses have already been taken, and the number may rise further. With people expected to travel across the country before and after the election holidays, withdrawing long-distance buses from service will cause serious hardship for passengers.
Saiful added that while vehicles have been requisitioned in the past for national needs, there is no precedent for removing long-distance buses on such a scale. He urged the government to requisition local buses and minibuses from districts and suburbs instead.
The association also expressed concern about compensation for requisitioned vehicles. Bus owners have not been informed how much they will be paid, nor has there been any clear directive from the government or the Election Commission regarding drivers’ and helpers’ wages, allowances, or fuel expenses.
“Every bus is purchased with loans from banks or leasing companies. Operating them requires fuel costs, as well as salaries and allowances for drivers, helpers, and other staff. But the EC has yet to allocate funds or issue clear instructions. If the issue is not resolved quickly, requisitioned buses may face difficulties reaching their designated locations on time,” transport leader Saiful said.
He alleged that although the matter had been formally communicated to the EC and relevant authorities, no response had yet been received.
The association’s acting President, MA Baten, Joint General Secretary, Kazi Md Zobayer Masum, and other leaders of the association were present.
